Federal law 18 U.S.C. 611 makes it unlawful for any alien to vote in any election held for the purpose of electing a candidate for federal office.
Posted by Badlands Media, Checked
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- 4 support3 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 90%
Badlands MediaOct 21, 2026
The claim matches the text of 18 U.S.C. 611(a), which makes it unlawful for any alien to vote in an election held solely or in part for electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Senate, House, D.C. Delegate, or Resident Commissioner.
What was said
… That's interesting. It's a ha it's a bold move for the state of California, right? Well, here's here's what Assali is is referring to, and Assali, this is where Assali gets the throwback at Newsom's office. He says, Federal Law 18 U.S.C. 611: it shall be unlawful for any alien to vote in any election held solely or in part of the purpose of electing candidate for federal office. Okay, but here's where he gets them: 18 U.S.C. Statute Two, whoever commits an offense against the United States, or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces, or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal. …
Badlands Media · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. The House.gov and GovInfo texts of 18 U.S.C. 611(a) state that it shall be unlawful for any alien to vote in any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for federal offices including President, Senate, and House.[5][6]
Supports. LeadStories quotes 18 U.S.C. 611 in the same terms and notes the penalty under subsection (b) of a fine and/or up to one year of imprisonment.[1]
Supports. Snopes reports that the 1996 IIRIRA made it a federal crime for non-citizens to vote in national elections, and that this provision has not been repealed.[2]
Context. The statute contains exceptions in subsection (a)(1)-(3) and (c) for certain elections held partly for other purposes and for aliens with citizen parents or similar circumstances; the claim omits these, but they do not reverse the core prohibition.[5][6]
Context. PolitiFact and FactCheck.org both state that federal law bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections.[3][4][7]
Sources
7 sources: 4 fact-checkers, 2 primary, 1 not rated
- 1Fact Check: FAKE Posts Claim That Foreign Nationals Are ...leadstories.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Does a 1996 U.S. Law Say Non-Citizens Who Vote Must ...snopes.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 3Misinformation Follows House Approval of H.R. 1 - FactCheck.orgfactcheck.org · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 4H.R. 1 does not give immigrants illegally in the country ...politifact.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 518 U.S.C. § 611: Voting by aliens - House.govuscode.house.gov · primary source · cited for: supports, context
- 6U.S.C. Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDUREgovinfo.gov · primary source · cited for: supports, context
- 7PolitiFact | Do ‘illegal immigrants now have the right to ...api.politifact.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post