Almost half of Americans would back shutting down government to stop noncitizens voting, poll reveals

When Republicans vote on Wednesday to tie a stopgap spending bill to new requirements for voters to provide proof of citizenship they will have the backing of Americans, according to a new poll for DailyMail.com.

It found that 48 percent of likely voters believe that noncitizens are voting in American elections, and that 45 percent feel strongly enough that they would support a government shutdown over the issue.

In contrast, 27 percent said they would oppose a shutdown on those grounds.

The results come in a poll of 1000 voters, conduced by J.L. Partners, which delved into one of the major dividing lines in the 2024 election. 

Republicans insist that legislation is required to protect the legitimacy of the vote after years of unprecedented illegal immigration at the southern border.

However, it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections and there is no evidence that it is a significant problem.

Yet Republican lawmakers are putting their weight behind the issue. House Speaker Mike Johnson has now linked it to a temporary spending bill to keep the government open beyond Oct. 1. 

'I urge all of my colleagues to do what the overwhelming majority of the people of this country rightfully demand and deserve—prevent non-American citizens from voting in American elections,' he said Tuesday, a day before the vote.

Even if it passes the House it sets up a clash with the Senate, where Democrats control the chamber and are opposed to linking a spending bill to voter requirements. They say it amounts to voter suppression. 

The poll results suggest the Republican messaging is resonating with voters.

Some 34 percent said they believed noncitizens were voting in their state (18 percent said they thought it was definitely true, and 16 percent probably true) and the same proportion said they believed it was happening in their local area (17 percent definitely and 27 percent probably).

Even 30 percent of people planning to vote for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris said it was enough of a problem to justify a government shutdown.

'The idea of non-citizens voting gets an instinctive reaction from most Americans: no way,' said James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners. 

'Voters think it probably happens, and they strongly dislike the idea. So much so that likely voters even support a government shutdown over the issue. 

'With Speaker Mike Johnson bringing the issue to a vote in Congress, he may not get the votes needed in the House—but he and other representatives can take heart from the fact that Americans are on his side.'

Americans in general are strongly opposed to noncitizens voting. In total, 66 percent said they should not be allowed to vote.

However, as it often does, Gen Z breaks against the consensus. Some 45 percent said they were in favor of noncitizens voting, compared with 29 percent opposed.

The results carry a three percent margin of error.

Complicating the issue is former President Donald Trump, who has been outspoken in pushing the idea of using a shutdown as leverage to push through the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. 

'I would shut down the government in a heartbeat if they don't get it,' he said recently.

It would require anyone signing up to vote to provide proof of citizenship and force states to purge suspected noncitizens from voter rolls. 

Johnson traveled to Florida on Sunday to discuss the issue with Trump.