Election Integrity
It is our solemn duty to uphold the Constitution and preserve the republic our Founders envisioned. The Constitution entrusts Congress with overseeing elections under Article I, Section 4. Still, it also empowers states to protect the voting process from fraud and manipulation. Weaknesses in our system, such as extended mail-in voting periods, have opened doors to abuse, as evidenced by the Heritage Foundation’s database documenting proven instances of voter fraud since 1982, many involving absentee ballots.
As citizens, we have the power to ensure the security of our voting process. Restricting voting to Election Day only, with in-person participation, eliminates these risks by ensuring ballots are cast under supervised conditions and reducing opportunities for ballot harvesting or coercion.
Similarly, requiring voter identification-such as a driver’s license or state ID—aligns with common-sense security measures used in everyday life, like boarding a plane or cashing a check. Studies and real-world implementations show that voter ID laws do not suppress legitimate turnout but deter impersonation fraud, with 36 states already mandating some form of ID to vote. This approach honors the principle that every legal vote counts and no illegal one dilutes it (https://electionfraud.heritage.org/; https://ballotpedia.org/Arguments_for_and_against_voter_identification_laws).
Furthermore, insisting on paper ballots over electronic systems bolsters security, as paper provides a tangible, verifiable record that cannot be hacked or susceptible to software glitches. Election experts note that paper ballots allow voters to confirm their choices directly and enable accurate recounts, which proved crucial in maintaining trust during the 2020 election audits.
Transparency is a cornerstone of democratic accountability. Same-day counting, conducted in full public view with bipartisan observers, prevents overnight tampering and ensures transparency. International standards emphasize that vote counting must be observable to build public confidence, as hidden processes breed suspicion and erode faith in outcomes.
Regularly auditing voter rolls is equally vital, removing deceased individuals, duplicates, and non-residents to prevent fraudulent voting. Risk-limiting audits, considered the gold standard, have been implemented in states like Colorado to confirm results statistically while catching irregularities early. These measures collectively uphold the constitutional order by protecting the franchise for citizens who play by the rules (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/paper-ballots-helped-secure-2020-election-what-will-2022-look; https://eos.cartercenter.org/summaries/1186; https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/defend-our-elections/election-security/post-election-audits).
The right to vote is a fundamental privilege reserved exclusively for American citizens, as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment affirms that citizenship confers specific privileges and immunities, while amendments like the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth explicitly protect the voting rights of citizens without extending them to non-citizens.
This framework reflects the Founders’ vision of a sovereign republic where only those who have pledged allegiance to our nation and its principles shape its governance. Allowing non-citizens to vote in any election—federal, state, local, or school board—undermines this core tenet, diluting the voice of lawful citizens and eroding the social contract that binds our society.
Federal law already prohibits non-citizen voting in national elections under 18 U.S.C. § 611. Most states follow suit for statewide contests, but a handful of localities persist in this misguided practice, which must be halted to preserve electoral integrity (https://www.migrationpolicy.org/content/noncitizen-voting-us-elections; https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States).
In an era of growing distrust, these reforms are not about restricting access but about fortifying the system against exploitation, ensuring that government of the people, by the people, and for the people endures.
As Republicans committed to limited government and individual liberty, we must advocate for laws that prioritize security without federal overreach, allowing states to lead in implementing these protections. Failing to do so risks the very foundations of our republic, where the voice of every lawful voter must be heard clearly and without interference.
