Key Takeaways:
– Trump is demanding that the government shut down unless a bill against non-citizen voting is passed.
– Non-citizen voting is already a crime.
– A 2016 study found minimal chances of non-citizen voting.
– Trump’s call for such a bill might be a move to claim election theft.
Trump Demanding Legislation Against Non-citizen Voting
Recent news finds Former US President Donald Trump up in arms. He’s demanding the government’s closure unless the SAVE Act is passed. This bill is aimed against non-citizen voting. You might be scratching your head on why Trump is pushing for a law against something that’s already illegal. Let’s unpack this a bit.
What is Non-citizen Voting?
Non-citizen voting is when someone who isn’t a US citizen votes in an election. It’s a big no-no. It’s already illegal in every state and federally. Someone caught doing this could face up to five years in jail and deportation. Sounds serious, right?
Is Non-citizen Voting a Problem?
Now, you might wonder how big of an issue non-citizen voting really is. In 2016, the Brennan Center did a study on this. They checked out 23.5 million ballots. They found only 30 were from suspected non-citizens. To give you an idea of how tiny that is, imagine a full NFL stadium. Then imagine just one fan in that stadium doing something wrong. It’s pretty negligible. Considering we have over 150 million voters in the US, this is an extremely small issue.
Then Why is Trump Focused on This?
So, why is Trump making such a fuss over non-citizen voting? It seems like he’s trying to create a narrative that the 2024 elections might be stolen from him due to non-citizens voting. It’s like saying your dog ate your homework before it’s even assigned. He’s setting up an excuse in case he doesn’t win the upcoming election.
Moreover, Trump also wants a law that requires proof of citizenship before voting. This might sound reasonable at first. But if you think about it, it can complicate things for voters. Not everyone has easy access to documents proving their citizenship. This extra step could deter some people from voting. This reduction in voters might benefit Trump and his party.
Is Non-citizen Voting the Real Problem Here?
Non-citizens voting in elections is already illegal and heavily punished. Actual instances of this happening are extremely rare. So, why is Trump pushing for new laws against it? He seems to be preparing for a possible loss in the 2024 elections and creating a narrative that it wasn’t a fair fight.
Could There Be a Government Shutdown?
A government shutdown is a big deal. It stops many critical services from operating. It can impact many lives. Despite this, Trump seems ready to let it happen if he doesn’t get what he wants. So, whether this shutdown will happen largely depends on whether the Republicans support Trump’s demands or not.
In conclusion, Trump is taking a hard stance on non-citizen voting, a problem that at face value appears to be non-existent. As for the potential government shutdown, voters and government officials will have to decide if a largely phantom problem warrants such an extreme measure.