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NYC Election Worker Says Processing Non-Citizen Voter Applications “Not My Job to Report Anyone”
Undercover video footage released by watchdog group Muckraker has captured a New York City Board of Elections worker stating he would not report non-citizens attempting to register to vote, despite acknowledging the practice is illegal.
The hidden camera investigation shows the worker telling an undercover reporter posing as a Canadian green card holder that while non-citizens cannot legally register to vote, he would still process any application submitted.
“I can’t tell you what to do. If you want to fill it out, fill it out,” the worker can be heard saying in the footage. “But everything is clearly stated, especially at the bottom. It says American citizen. So I’m letting you know, if you fill that out, and you’re not [a citizen]… If it comes back to you, it comes back to you. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
When directly asked if he would report someone he knew to be a non-citizen attempting to register, the worker explicitly stated: “That’s not my job to report anyone. My job is just to collect the application and submit it to the department.”
The exchange has raised serious concerns about potential vulnerabilities in New York’s voter registration system ahead of the upcoming election. Under New York state law, only U.S. citizens are legally permitted to register to vote in any election, and misrepresenting citizenship status on voter registration forms can carry significant legal penalties.
The worker did offer some cautions to the undercover reporter, noting that people have faced “legal situations” when non-citizens attempted to register. However, he repeatedly emphasized that his office would “accept anything that comes over the counter” regardless of citizenship status.
“Once in a while… we have people come in here… and they register, they weren’t a citizen,” the worker admitted, suggesting this was not an isolated occurrence.
This revelation comes amid heightened national scrutiny of election integrity. Just last year, a measure that would have allowed non-citizens to vote in local New York City municipal elections was struck down as unconstitutional by state courts.
Similar concerns have emerged in other states. Ohio recently identified over 1,000 non-citizens appearing on its voter rolls and referred these cases to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution.
Election integrity advocates argue that such incidents, even if uncommon, underscore the need for stronger verification systems to ensure only eligible citizens cast ballots. Critics of these concerns counter that actual instances of non-citizen voting remain rare and that excessive restrictions risk disenfranchising legitimate voters.
The timing of this video’s release is particularly significant as it comes during a highly contentious election cycle where voting procedures and election administration have become polarizing political issues. States nationwide continue to debate the balance between accessibility and security in their voting systems.
The New York City Board of Elections has not yet responded to requests for comment about the video or whether it plans to investigate the worker’s statements or review its training procedures.
Election law experts note that while voter registration applications contain attestations of citizenship under penalty of perjury, the verification process varies significantly between states, with many relying heavily on the honor system rather than document verification.
As the November election approaches, this incident highlights ongoing tensions between maintaining open access to the ballot box while ensuring that only those legally eligible to vote participate in America’s electoral process.
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9 Comments
As a concerned citizen, I hope election authorities will thoroughly review this incident and take appropriate action if wrongdoing is confirmed. Maintaining public trust in the electoral process is critical.
I agree, transparency and accountability from election officials is essential.
Watchdog groups play an important role in monitoring elections, but I’d want to see the full video and context before drawing firm conclusions. Voter registration rules should be clear and consistently applied.
This is a concerning report, but I’ll reserve final judgment until more details emerge. Ensuring the integrity of elections is paramount, and any irregularities should be carefully examined.
While I appreciate the desire to uncover potential issues, I would caution against rushing to judgment without a full investigation. Election procedures can be complex, and officials may have valid reasons for their actions.
That’s a fair point. We should strive for balanced and fact-based analysis on sensitive election topics.
I’m curious to know more about the context and whether the worker’s actions were in line with official procedures. Proper training and oversight of election officials is important to ensure compliance with the law.
This raises valid questions about election administration and the responsibilities of officials. Careful investigation is needed to understand the facts and determine if policy changes or additional oversight is required.
This is a concerning situation if true. Election integrity is crucial for democracy. Non-citizens should not be able to register to vote, as that undermines the legitimacy of the process.