As President Donald Trump advocates for stricter citizenship proof laws before the midterms, social media users falsely suggest a past clip of former President Barack Obama shows him encouraging illegal voting in the 2016 election. The clip originates from a video by mitú, a Latino media company, featuring actress Gina Rodriguez interviewing Obama about voting misconceptions. Online claims misrepresent his comments on whether the election is rigged and if voting might inadvertently expose a voter’s or their relatives’ immigration status.
Examining the Facts
Claim: A 2016 interview clip shows then-President Barack Obama encouraging illegal voting in the U.S.
The Facts: This claim is false. The clip has been edited to suggest Obama permits voting by everyone in the country. He actually encourages legal voters, including Latino citizens, to vote. He does not endorse unauthorized voting. Social media distortion includes a post with over 8,500 likes and shares claiming Obama encouraged illegal voting. The clip begins with Obama stating, “If you want to vote and you show up at your polling place, they can’t stop you.” However, a complete viewing of the video reveals a different context.
In the full interview, Rodriguez questions Obama about election rigging. Obama denies such claims, noting past efforts in the U.S. to suppress voting, particularly among African Americans. He assures that while some try to discourage voting, “if you want to vote and you show up at your polling place, they can’t stop you from voting.” Rodriguez raises concerns about immigrant fears related to voting and possible exposure of relatives illegally present in the country. Obama responds, “Not true,” emphasizing that voting is for citizens and is a means for voters to voice their opinions for themselves and their communities, including those “who can’t legally vote.”
Obama’s representatives have not commented on these claims. Research shows instances of noncitizens voting in federal elections are extremely infrequent. U.S. law since 1996 prohibits noncitizens from voting in presidential or congressional elections, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and deportation. When registering to vote, individuals affirm their U.S. citizenship under penalty of perjury. Federal regulations require states to maintain and update voter rolls, which helps identify ineligible voters, including undocumented immigrants.
Noncitizen Voting Laws
No state constitutions authorize noncitizen voting. Most states expressly bar noncitizens from voting in state elections, such as those for governor or attorney general. Some local jurisdictions allow noncitizen voting in certain local elections, like school board and city council races. Despite this, Trump and Republicans consistently argue noncitizen voting is widespread in U.S. elections.
Recently, Trump announced a Department of Homeland Security investigation finding approximately 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections, though no allegations state they actually voted. The data, based on state voter rolls and often flawed public records, remains unverified.
In New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, reported that around 6,600 noncitizens were improperly registered due to Motor Vehicle Commission software errors. Fewer than 400 of these individuals ultimately voted, according to initial analyses. The White House used this situation to endorse Trump’s SAVE America Act, which would mandate documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and impose nationwide voter ID requirements. While this measure passed the U.S. House, it has not been voted on in the Senate as some Republicans oppose it.
For additional fact-checking, visit AP Fact-Check.
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