Are Illegal Aliens Being Registered To Vote

(CNN)In that location'southward lilliputian dubiousness that immigration volition be an consequence many voters are weighing as they head to the polls in Nov.

Only a new study highlights an interesting fact to think about every bit the 2020 presidential ballot looms: A record number of immigrants are eligible to vote.

The study, released Wednesday by the Pew Research Centre, notes that the size of the immigrant electorate has nearly doubled since 2000. More than 23 million naturalized immigrants in the United States are eligible to vote, the study says. That's about ane in 10 eligible voters in the United States -- a record high.

The term "eligible voters," Pew says, refers to people aged 18 and older who are US citizens. The center'due south assay is based on data from the The states Census Bureau's American Community Survey and the 2000 United states decennial census.

This growth in the immigrant voting population comes at a time when immigration policy issues have risen in importance, Pew's report says.

"Many of the administration'southward proposed policy changes, such equally expanding the U.S.-Mexico edge wall and limiting legal immigration, have generated potent, polarized reactions from the public," Pew says. "These proposals may also bear upon how immigrants see their place in America and the potential function they could play in the 2020 presidential election."

A canvasser holds a sign encouraging people to register to vote following a naturalization ceremony on March 20, 2018 in Los Angeles.

1 key point to continue in mind: Beingness eligible to vote is ane thing, only actually registering and showing upward at the polls is some other.

Historically, Pew'south written report notes, the voter turnout rates for immigrant eligible voters has lagged backside Usa-built-in voters. In 2016, according to Pew, just 54% of strange-born eligible voters cast ballots, compared to 62% of Us-built-in eligible voters.

But within the racial and ethnic groups with the largest numbers of immigrants, the trend is different, Pew says.

"Immigrant voter turnout rates take trailed the U.S. born overall," Pew says, "but not amid Latinos and Asians."

About 53% of Hispanic immigrants who were eligible to vote bandage ballots in 2016, compared with 46% of the US built-in. Similarly, among Asian eligible voters, 52% of immigrants voted, compared with 45% of the US built-in.

Some other cardinal findings in the report:

• Mexican and Filipino immigrants are the largest groups among foreign-born eligible voters.

• 46% of the nation'south eligible immigrant voters live in states where Democratic primaries or caucuses accept place on or before Super Tuesday. This is upwardly from 21% in 2016, Pew says, a alter driven primarily past movements in the calendar of the Democratic Party's primaries and caucuses.

• The number of immigrants living in the U.s.a. is rising, but just half of immigrants in the land are eligible to vote

• The four states with the largest eligible voter populations -- California, New York, Florida and Texas -- are likewise home to most immigrant voters. "Even so," Pew says, "immigrant eligible voters are dispersed across the nation. While California may accept more immigrant voters than whatever other state, many states have substantial immigrant eligible voter populations."

• The immigrant electorate is growing the fastest in Georgia, Minnesota and North Carolina. "All 3 have seen their numbers of immigrant eligible voters nearly triple betwixt 2000 and 2018," Pew says. "Georgia increased past 193% during this fourth dimension, the nation'south fastest growth."