Federal law prohibits non-citizens (resident aliens as well as illegal immigrants) from voting in federal elections. Most state constitutions note that voting is for U.S. and state citizens, but many do not expressly ban non-citizen voting or include the words “citizens only.”

Federal laws (including the National Voting Rights Act of 1993) that prohibit non-citizen voting do not have specific or meaningful enforcement provisions from registration
process through to voting. No documentary proof of citizenship is required to register to vote.