Op-Ed: How Illinois' Fast-Tracked Migrant Programs and Flawed Voter Safeguards Open the Door to Illegal Voting
In recent years, Illinois has positioned itself as a national sanctuary for migrants seeking asylum—particularly in the wake of mass border crossings and political battles over immigration enforcement. Chicago, under the leadership of its progressive city officials, has accepted thousands of asylum seekers bused in from Texas and other border states. Governor J.B. Pritzker, far from resisting the burden this placed on state resources, doubled down—demanding that the federal government expedite work permits for these new arrivals so they could be placed into the state’s workforce.
But in their haste to appear humane and inclusive, Illinois officials have overlooked a dangerous consequence: a systemic failure to protect the integrity of our voter rolls.
From Border to Ballot: A Quietly Dangerous Path
Let’s walk through what’s happening:
A migrant crosses into the United States and claims asylum. While their claim is processed, they are temporarily protected from deportation and may be eligible for work authorization. This Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is essential—it allows them to legally work, pay taxes, and contribute to the economy.
In most cases, once a migrant receives an EAD, they can also apply for a Social Security number. That SSN opens the door to a host of public systems—including obtaining a state ID or driver’s license.
And in Illinois, that’s where things get murky.
Thanks to the state’s Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system, any eligible individual who applies for or renews a driver’s license is automatically prompted to register to vote, unless they affirmatively opt out. The state claims this is a streamlined, efficient way to boost civic participation.
What the system fails to do, however, is verify whether that individual is a U.S. citizen.
A System Built on Assumptions
Illinois does not require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. It asks applicants to check a box affirming they are a citizen—under penalty of perjury—and then uses limited state-level database checks to process the application.
The result? A gaping vulnerability.
A migrant with a Social Security number and a state-issued ID can easily be caught in the automated gears of voter registration—without realizing they are ineligible to vote. Some may even be handed voter cards. Some may receive ballots. And a small but significant number may vote—not out of malicious intent, but out of confusion, poor guidance, or assumption.
We’ve already seen it happen.
In 2020, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office admitted that at least 574 non-citizens were improperly registered to vote due to errors in the AVR system. Several of them actually cast ballots in elections. These were not isolated incidents—they were symptoms of a broken system.
And now, with a flood of new migrants receiving fast-tracked work authorization and legal aid paid for by Illinois taxpayers, the risk is multiplying.
Citizenship Is the Line That Must Not Be Blurred
Let’s be clear: work authorization does not equal citizenship. Social Security numbers do not equal citizenship. State-issued ID cards do not equal citizenship.
But the state of Illinois has blurred those lines so thoroughly that the difference is practically meaningless—at least in the voter registration process.
And if you think this is just a theoretical concern, consider this: Chicago is now considering allowing non-citizens to vote in school board elections. The Overton window is already shifting.
If you can work, and live, and drive—and the system invites you to register—what’s really stopping someone from casting a ballot? Especially if no one verifies their eligibility?
A State Failing Its Citizens
Illinois’ leadership has shown little appetite for addressing this. Instead, they’ve pushed for more access, less oversight, and faster processing for newcomers—without strengthening the guardrails that protect the most sacred pillar of democracy: the vote.
This isn’t compassion. This is carelessness.
True compassion would mean ensuring that those who want to become Americans have a clear and legal path to do so—and that until then, we uphold the standards that define the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.
We are not doing that.
A Call for Reform
Illinois must act before the damage is irreversible. That means:
Ending automatic voter registration for all but confirmed U.S. citizens
Requiring documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration
Auditing existing voter rolls to remove ineligible registrants
Creating a firewall between immigration processing and voter registration systems
And perhaps most importantly, telling the truth—even when it’s politically inconvenient.
Because when a non-citizen votes, whether by accident or intent, it dilutes the voice of every legal voter. And that is a theft of representation we cannot afford—no matter how noble the excuse.
