OPINION:
National security is not just about defending our borders from foreign armies or confronting adversaries overseas. It’s about protecting the core institutions that make America a sovereign nation. At the very center of those institutions lies the integrity of our elections.
If we cannot guarantee that only American citizens are choosing American leaders, then we are not fully secure as a country. It’s that simple.
Recent findings in Maricopa County, Arizona, should serve as a wake-up call to every elected official in Washington. In a review of 61,681 voters flagged because of a Motor Vehicle Division documentation issue, Arizona officials discovered 137 noncitizens who were registered to vote.
Even more alarming, it appears that 60 of them had already cast ballots in elections.
Some will try to dismiss these numbers as small, but if we have even one noncitizen voting, it’s one too many.
In an era of razor-thin election margins, a handful of illegal votes can determine the outcome of a race, reshape policy and undermine public confidence in the democratic process.
I know this reality better than most other Americans. My 2022 race for Arizona attorney general was decided by just 280 votes.
When even a few dozen illegal votes are allowed to enter the system, the legitimacy of close elections is placed at risk.
This is not a partisan issue. It’s not about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about whether American elections belong exclusively to American citizens — which they should.
Every nation on earth understands this principle. Only citizens can vote because voting is an expression of sovereignty. It determines who writes the laws, enforces them and represents the country on the world stage.
Allowing noncitizens to participate in federal elections dilutes the voice of lawful voters and erodes the foundation of representative government. It also creates vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries could exploit.
If we fail to enforce basic citizenship verification, then we are signaling weakness in one of the most sensitive areas of national defense.
Election security is national security, and that’s why the Senate must immediately pass the SAVE America Act.
The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It would establish clear, uniform standards across states and provide election officials with the tools they need to prevent noncitizen registration before it happens.
Critics will claim this is unnecessary or that it creates barriers to participation. That argument ignores reality. Proof of citizenship is already required for countless everyday activities, including obtaining a passport and securing certain government benefits.
Voting for the leaders of the United States should require at least the same level of verification. There are critics who will say this is voter suppression. They are wrong. It’s voter protection.
The real threat to public confidence is the failure to implement safeguards. It’s allowing vulnerabilities to persist while pretending they do not exist.
Americans of all political backgrounds deserve to know that when they cast a ballot, their vote will not be canceled out by someone who is not legally eligible to participate. They deserve elections that are transparent, secure and unquestionably legitimate.
Without that confidence, trust in our democratic system erodes. When trust erodes, so does national unity.
We cannot afford that outcome in a time of global instability, rising foreign threats and intense domestic division.
The path forward is clear: Congress must act decisively. The Senate must take up the SAVE America Act without delay. Lawmakers in both parties must recognize that protecting the sanctity of the ballot is not optional. It is a fundamental duty.
Our elections are the mechanism through which Americans choose their future. Protecting that mechanism is as vital as defending our borders, safeguarding our infrastructure or maintaining our military strength.
Because when it comes to the survival of our republic, election security is national security.
• Rep. Abraham J. Hamadeh represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.