A New York City Board of Elections worker stated he would not report non-citizens attempting to register to vote, claiming it is not his responsibility.
A New York City election worker was recorded saying he would not report non-citizens trying to register to vote, asserting, “that’s not my job.” The comments were captured in undercover footage released by Muckraker, where a reporter posed as a non-citizen seeking to register.
In the video, the worker acknowledged that occasionally, individuals who are not U.S. citizens come in to register. “Once in a while … we have people come in here … and they register, they weren’t a citizen,” he explained.
When the reporter claimed to be a green card holder from Canada, the worker clarified that citizenship is a requirement for registration. “I wouldn’t fill it out,” he stated, emphasizing that one must be a citizen to complete the application.
Despite this, the worker indicated that the office could not prevent anyone from submitting an application. He cautioned the reporter about potential legal issues that could arise from non-citizens attempting to register. “We can’t stop you from submitting the application,” he said, reiterating that there have been “legal situations” involving such cases.
When pressed further by the reporter about his desire to register, the worker maintained that the decision was ultimately up to the individual. “I can’t tell you what to do. If you want to fill it out, fill it out,” he said. He also pointed out that the application clearly states that it is for American citizens, warning that if the application were to be rejected, it would be the responsibility of the applicant.
“But we accept anything that comes over the counter,” he added, indicating a willingness to process applications regardless of citizenship status.
In response to a question about whether he would report the reporter if he submitted an application, the worker firmly stated he would not. “That’s not my job to report anyone,” he said. “My job is just to collect the application and submit it to the department.”
It is important to note that in New York, it is illegal for non-citizens to register to vote. A previous measure that aimed to allow non-citizen voting in local municipal elections was ruled unconstitutional last year.
The implications of these statements raise concerns about election integrity and the enforcement of voting laws in New York City. As the debate over voter registration continues, the actions and responsibilities of election workers remain under scrutiny.
According to Muckraker, the footage highlights significant issues surrounding the registration process and the potential for non-citizens to influence elections.