OPINION:
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill admitted earlier this month that some 6,600 non-citizens were registered to vote in her state — and that some 400 actually voted.
She tried to minimize the error by claiming that there is no proof that the illegal voting affected the outcome of any individual election. But this excuse, echoed by Democrats opposed to the SAVE America Act, is flawed for at least two reasons.
First, one local election in New Jersey was reportedly decided by a single vote, and a mayoral race by 79 votes. More importantly, even if illegal voting were not outcome-determinative of an election, the integrity of the voting process is at stake.
Passing counterfeit currency is a major felony even if the amount is a $20 bill and shows no immediate effect on our money supply.
Votes are the currency of our democracy and bogus ones should not be allowed to dilute legitimate ones, regardless of the number of illegal votes cast.
PAUL KAMENAR
Counsel, National Legal and Policy Center
Chevy Chase, Maryland
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