Immigrants are already influencing US elections without casting a single vote

Immigrants play a significant role in American elections even without the right to vote, as their presence can impact the outcome.

The distribution of House seats and Electoral College votes is based on total population, including citizens and non-citizens, as outlined by the Census Bureau every 10 years.

The large and uneven distribution of legal and illegal immigrant populations across the country can result in certain states gaining political power at the expense of others.

California, for example, benefits the most from non-citizen immigrants, gaining 8 additional House seats due to their presence.

The political implications of immigration are evident, with Democratic-leaning states gaining more seats and electoral votes compared to Republican states, thanks to the immigrant population.

Looking ahead, the continued growth of legal and illegal immigrant populations is expected to further redistribute political power in the 2030 Census.

The impact of immigration on elections is particularly evident in congressional districts, where the number of legal voters varies significantly depending on the non-citizen population.

These disparities raise questions about the fairness of representation and the principle of “one person, one vote.”

To address these distortions, enforcement of immigration laws and reevaluation of legal immigration policies are crucial steps to consider.

Steven Camarota is director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies.