What are official estimates of non-citizen voter registrations in the United States in 2025?
Executive summary
There is no single “official” nationwide estimate for non‑citizen voter registrations in 2025; federal and independent data show non‑citizen voting is rare and most national statistics measure citizen populations only (Census/CPS uses the citizen voting‑age population) [1] [2]. State audits and news reports show small, highly variable findings—examples include Michigan finding 16 credible cases in 2024 out of 5.7 million votes, and separate state probes turning up counts ranging from dozens to a few thousand that were later questioned—indicating no evidence of large-scale non‑citizen registration affecting elections [3] [4].
1. Official federal datasets don’t report a 2025 nationwide non‑citizen registration total
The U.S. Census Bureau and other federal reporting track the citizen voting‑age population (CVAP) and registered citizens, not a consolidated count of non‑citizens on voter rolls; the Census’s 2024 voting and registration tables report registration and turnout for the citizen population rather than non‑citizens [2] [1]. Available federal publications and major datasets cited in the search results do not provide a single official nationwide figure for non‑citizen registrations in 2025—meaning no authoritative federal “non‑citizen registered voter” number exists in these sources [2] [1].
2. State audits and news investigations find isolated, small numbers — not millions
State reviews and investigative reports repeatedly find that confirmed or credible cases of non‑citizen voting are extremely small relative to turnout. For example, Michigan’s review identified 16 credible cases in the 2024 election out of 5.7 million votes cast, and broader journalistic and academic reviews describe only dozens to a few thousand potential cases across states—often subject to correction or legal challenge [3] [4] [5]. Independent analysts quoted by the Brennan Center and Migration Policy note that documented instances are scarce and typically do not affect outcomes [6] [5].
3. Disagreement over methods and politicization of counts
Counting potential non‑citizen registrations depends on methods that vary by state and can produce very different totals: some states use cross‑matches with immigration or motor‑vehicle databases, others use Department of Homeland Security tools (SAVE), and courts have blocked or overturned state proof‑of‑citizenship requirements—producing disputes about accuracy and legitimate removals [7] [8] [4]. Conservative groups and some secretaries of state have publicized large removal counts (e.g., thousands in Alabama, Texas), while judges and subsequent audits have found many of those flagged were in fact citizens or that the procedures were flawed [9] [3].
4. Legal baseline: federal prohibition and penalties, but local exceptions exist
Federal law bars non‑citizens from voting in federal elections and carries criminal and immigration penalties; registration forms require an attestation of U.S. citizenship under penalty of perjury and most states deny non‑citizens registration for federal and state contests [10] [11] [12]. Several municipalities and a few jurisdictions allow non‑citizens to vote in limited local contests (school boards, city councils), so “non‑citizen registration” can be lawful in those narrow contexts and would not be illegal everywhere [13] [14].
5. Scholarly and policy analyses: rare but not impossible; maintenance matters
Policy researchers (Brennan Center, Migration Policy Center, Bipartisan Policy Center) conclude that non‑citizen voting is rare and that administrative errors and imperfect voter‑roll maintenance explain most allegations; they caution that requiring documentary proof of citizenship risks disenfranchising millions of legitimate citizens who lack immediate access to documents [6] [5] [11]. These sources emphasize the difference between isolated illegal acts and systemic problems affecting election outcomes [6] [5].
6. What journalists and policymakers are doing — and why counts remain contested
The Trump White House and other federal actors have pursued executive actions and information requests aimed at tightening verification and identifying non‑citizens on rolls, and some states have launched aggressive purges or audits; opponents say these efforts are politically motivated and risk wrongful removals of citizens [7] [4] [15]. Reporting shows large disparities in state transparency and methodology, which fuels partisan claims on both sides without producing a single, verifiable national total [15] [3].
7. Bottom line for your question
No official, government‑published nationwide estimate for non‑citizen voter registrations in 2025 is available in the provided sources; federal datasets focus on citizen populations and state‑level counts vary widely and are contested [2] [1] [3]. Available reporting and research consistently describe confirmed cases as very small relative to total votes cast and warn that methodological differences and political agendas shape the public numbers [5] [6] [4].
Limitations: sources provided here do not include any single federal tally labeled “non‑citizen registered voters, 2025,” and many state figures are disputed in follow‑up reporting [2] [3]. If you want, I can search for specific state audits or court rulings from 2025 to show concrete, documented counts and the disputes around them.