False Claims about Obama’s Comments on Voting in 2016 Election
As President Donald Trump advocates for tighter proof of citizenship laws ahead of the midterms, some social media posts falsely claim that a clip shows former President Barack Obama encouraging illegal voting in the 2016 election. This claim is based on a video originally posted by mitú, where actress Gina Rodriguez interviews Obama about voting myths.
Misrepresentation of Obama’s Interview
The claim suggests that Obama promoted illegal voting, but this is inaccurate. The clip has been altered to imply that Obama encouraged everyone in the country to vote, regardless of their citizenship status. In the full interview, Obama encourages eligible voters, including Latino citizens, to participate in elections. He does not endorse voting by noncitizens.
Social media posts have mischaracterized Obama’s statement. One such post on a platform, liked and shared over 8,500 times, falsely asserts that Obama openly encouraged illegal voting and promised no repercussions from authorities. The post used Obama’s statement, “If you want to vote and you show up at your polling place, they can’t stop you,” misleadingly.
Full Interview Context
In the complete video, Rodriguez questions Obama about election rigging. Obama assures her that the U.S. election system is robust, though historical efforts have made voting challenging, particularly for African Americans. He emphasizes, “If you want to vote and you show up at your polling place, they can’t stop you from voting.”
Rodriguez also raises concerns about immigrants’ fears that voting may expose relatives living in the U.S. illegally. Obama counters this fear, stating, “Not true,” and clarifying that voting is a right for U.S. citizens, who also vote on behalf of community members who are ineligible.
Legal Context for Noncitizen Voting
Studies show that noncitizen voting in federal elections is rare. The 1996 U.S. law prohibits noncitizens from voting in presidential or congressional elections, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and potential deportation. Voter registration requires individuals to confirm their citizenship under penalty of perjury, and states regularly update voter rolls to identify ineligible voters.
No state constitution explicitly allows noncitizen voting, and numerous states have laws against it for state offices. Some municipalities permit noncitizen participation in certain local elections such as school boards or city councils. Despite Trump and some Republicans’ assertions, evidence of widespread noncitizen voting lacks support.
Recent Developments
Recently, Trump claimed a Department of Homeland Security investigation found about 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections, though without evidence of these individuals casting ballots. The data is unverified and might contain errors.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill revealed a software error caused about 6,600 noncitizens to improperly register while obtaining state IDs. Fewer than 400 of these registered individuals reportedly voted. The administration used this incident to advocate for Trump’s SAVE America Act, which proposes nationwide voter ID requirements. This measure has passed the U.S. House but awaits a Senate vote.
For more information, refer to AP Fact Checks.