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Complaint about illegal voting in US elections

2024-06-18 21:11:00, Kosova & Bota CNA
Complaint about illegal voting in US elections
Illustrative photo, AP

Former President Donald Trump, who is expected to be the Republican Party's nominee in the race for the White House, says people are voting illegally in US elections, including immigrants. As Voice of America correspondent Genia Dulot reports, the city of Huntington Beach in California is taking legal action to establish voter identification rules, which conflict with voting laws in this state. Voting by individuals who are not US citizens is a political issue in this presidential campaign.

The picturesque town of Huntington Beach is known for its beach and sea sports activities. But in this election year, he is getting political recognition because of a local order requiring the presentation of an ID card before voting. Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark says the decision reflects citizens' concerns about the integrity of elections.

"Without identification documents, you cannot even go to the doctor. Our lives are dictated by who we elect, because they then make the laws, so we want to make sure that the integrity of the election is protected," says Ms Van Der Mark.

Non-US citizen voting is a political issue in this presidential campaign. Last week in Arizona, Mr. Trump accused President Biden of allowing immigrants to cross the Mexican border to vote illegally for him in November.

"Someone will have to explain to us why they allowed such a thing to happen. I think it has something to do with the votes," Mr. Trump said.

There is no evidence that individuals who are not US citizens constitute a significant number in elections in the United States.

Most American voters confirm personal information when they register to vote, but are not required to show identification when they cast their ballot.

City Councilman Dan Kalmick opposes requiring voters to show ID and says it reflects his city of Huntington Beach becoming more conservative.

"The obligation to present the identity card is only for those who go to vote in election centers, but only 15 percent of voters went to the polling centers in person in the last elections. What problem are we trying to solve? Are we trying to solve a problem for thousands of people who will vote in person? This just proves that it is a political move. There is not really a problem and we are trying to solve it."

California has its own voting laws, and the state sued the city of Huntington Beach over the decision, which Attorney General Rob Bonta said adversely affects "low-income voters, black voters, young and elderly voters, and people with disabilities".

Charlie Zablah is an immigrant who has opened a restaurant. He says that the decision to present ID to vote does not constitute discrimination.

"Just because you're poor doesn't mean you can't have or get an identity card," says Mr. Zablah.

Oak View ComUNIDAD is a non-profit organization that strives to combat "social, cultural, health and economic" disparities in Huntington Beach.

Co-founder Oscar Rodrigue says the law will curb voter turnout in lower-income neighborhoods.

"In this way, even more uncertainty is being created, at a time when there is already a low turnout in the voting, perhaps because individuals have to take care of children, because they have to do more than one job. People don't trust the system. And by adding measures for identification, even more uncertainty is created and people may not go to vote", said Mr. Rodrigue.

City leaders say they are ready to continue the legal challenge with the state over the requirement to show ID to vote. These legal challenges will cause the issue to be extended beyond the November elections, when state laws will remain in effect./ VOA





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