New York City’s election processes are facing renewed scrutiny following the release of undercover video footage appearing to show a Board of Elections worker acknowledging the potential for non-citizens to register to vote. The footage, captured by Muckraker, depicts a worker stating This proves “not [his] job to report anyone” when questioned about processing registrations from individuals who are not U.S. Citizens.
According to the video, the worker admitted that applications from non-citizens are occasionally submitted, stating, “Once in a while… we have people come in here… and they register, they weren’t a citizen.” When presented with a scenario involving a green card holder, the worker correctly identified the requirement for citizenship, but then offered a concerning caveat: “We can’t stop you from submitting the application.”
The worker went on to warn the undercover reporter about potential “legal situations” that could arise from a non-citizen attempting to register, but notably stopped short of actively discouraging the act. “I wouldn’t fill it out,” he advised, “You gotta be a citizen to fill it out.” However, when pressed, he reiterated, “I can’t tell you what to do. If you want to fill it out, fill it out.” He further stated, “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.”
The revelation comes amidst a broader national conversation about election integrity. Just last month, , Ohio officials uncovered over 1,000 instances of non-citizens appearing on voter rolls, prompting them to send the cases to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution. This incident in New York City adds fuel to concerns about vulnerabilities in the voter registration system.
The legality of non-citizen voting has been a contentious issue in New York. A previous attempt to allow non-citizens to participate in local municipal elections was deemed unconstitutional last year, underscoring the existing legal framework that restricts voting rights to citizens. Despite this ruling, the footage suggests a potential gap in enforcement, with the Board of Elections worker seemingly willing to accept applications regardless of citizenship status.
The worker’s statement that his role is simply to “collect the application and submit it to the department” raises questions about the level of vetting and verification occurring at the point of registration. The lack of proactive intervention, even when presented with a clear indication of potential ineligibility, is likely to draw criticism from election integrity advocates.
This incident also echoes past controversies involving Project Veritas, an American far-right activist group known for its undercover operations and deceptively edited videos. Founded in by James O’Keefe, the organization has a history of targeting media organizations, progressive groups, and political figures with hidden camera recordings and controversial tactics. Project Veritas has been accused of using entrapment, video manipulation, and propagating disinformation in its efforts to discredit its targets. Notably, the group was involved in a 2009 operation targeting ACORN, which led to the organization’s collapse after losing funding, although the California Attorney General later cleared ACORN of wrongdoing. In 2013, a deceptively edited video released by Project Veritas led to the resignation of NPR CEO Vivian Schiller.
While the connection between Muckraker and Project Veritas isn’t explicitly stated, the tactics employed – undercover reporting and the release of potentially damaging video footage – align with Project Veritas’s established methods. This context is important when evaluating the footage and considering potential biases or agendas.
Beyond the immediate legal implications, the incident raises broader questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the responsibility of election officials to ensure that only eligible citizens are registered to vote. The willingness of the Board of Elections worker to accept an application from a potentially ineligible voter, coupled with his refusal to report the situation, highlights a potential weakness in the system that could be exploited. The incident is likely to intensify calls for stricter voter ID laws, enhanced verification procedures, and increased oversight of election administration.
The situation also comes on the heels of reports regarding attempts to influence the political process through misinformation and disinformation campaigns. In , videos surfaced alleging that a nonprofit executive, Pedro Rodriguez, director of La Jornada, instructed an undercover journalist posing as an unregistered migrant to vote. These allegations, also brought to light through undercover footage, further underscore the concerns surrounding election integrity and the potential for external interference.
As investigations into these incidents unfold, the focus will likely turn to identifying any systemic issues within the New York City Board of Elections and implementing measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in safeguarding the democratic process and ensuring that elections are fair, accurate, and secure.
