SANTA ANA, California — Noncitizens flocking to the polls to sway the presidential election is a favorite image conjured by Republican politicians to bolster their narrative about rampant election fraud. House Speaker Mike Johnson recently warned, without evidence, that there will be “thousands upon thousands of noncitizens voting,” enough to potentially “change the outcome of the election” in key swing states.
To backers of a ballot measure in this diverse Southern California city of 300,000, the idea of thousands of noncitizens at the polls isn’t a menace. It’s the goal.
Voters in Santa Ana will weigh in this fall on Measure DD, an amendment to the city charter that would give noncitizens the right to vote in local elections, including for mayor, city council and local ballot measures.
The proposal, which would not apply to statewide and federal votes, would place Santa Ana in the company of nearly 20 cities and localities around the country that already allow some form of noncitizen voting.