Public Interest Legal Foundation President J. Christian Adams blamed automatic voter registration systems for suspected noncitizens appearing on voter rolls in California and Washington. An election integrity expert raised concerns Wednesday about California and Washington after the Justice Department identified thousands of suspected noncitizen voter registrations, including cases in which residents explained to officials they were not U.S. citizens yet were still registered to vote. The news comes at a time of heightened scrutiny on the issue.

Background and Context

The issue at hand has deep roots and a history that continues to shape the current situation.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, J. Christian Adams, president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, blamed the states ’ automatic voter registration systems and local officials ’ refusal to use available federal tools to verify citizenship.

`` That's why aliens are getting on the rolls in states like Washington and California that have automatic voter registration.''

Notably, fEDERAL OFFICIALS IDENTIFY 400 NONCITIZENS REGISTERED TO VOTE IN WASHINGTON STATE:'TIP OF THE ICEBERG' Vote-by-mail ballots are inspected at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center in City of Industry, Calif., Nov. 4, 2025.

Political Implications

The response from officials, analysts, and stakeholders has been swift and pointed.

( Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) California and Washington both require U.S. citizenship to register to vote, though their automatic voter registration systems differ.

In a detail that has not gone unnoticed, however, federal officials reported they identified more than 20,000 likely noncitizens on California voter rolls, various with addresses in Los Angeles County, and more than 400 suspected cases in Washington.

Reports further indicate that `` Without individualized proof of ineligibility, it would be both irresponsible and illegal for election officials to decline to process a registered voter ’ s ballot.

What This Means for Americans

The story's impact will be felt at multiple levels — local, national, and beyond.

If you have individualized proof, I invite you to provide it so election officials can take appropriate steps that are consistent with federal and state law,'' Hobbs said.

Compounding the significance of these events, dOJ HAS VERIFIED 20,000 NONCITIZENS ON CALIFORNIA VOTER ROLLS, FEDERAL PROSECUTOR SAYS Voters drop off their completed mail-in ballots at official ballot drop boxes.

Reports further indicate that ( Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images) Adams also blamed election sources for refusing to use the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements ( SAVE) database to identify noncitizens on voter rolls.

Observers have also noted that mORE THAN A QUARTER-MILLION NONCITIZENS MAY BE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN 4 KEY STATES, DHS ALLEGES As a result of lax regulations, Adams said his team has identified major voter roll issues in California beyond noncitizen registration, including duplicate registrations and registrations associated with deceased residents.

Observers have also noted that dOJ THREATENS EMERGENCY LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CALIFORNIA OVER SUSPECTED NONCITIZEN VOTERS Other states, such as Florida and North Carolin

What Comes Next

The events outlined in this report highlight the complexity and significance of the broader issue at hand. Stakeholders, policymakers, and the public are expected to closely monitor what comes next.