The aftermath of the highly contentious 2020 U.S. presidential election have seen various claims and allegations surface, most of them questioning the integrity of the electoral process.
As reported by the Arizona Center For Investigative Reporting on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, one of the more sensational claims was that 10,000 undocumented immigrants cast votes using the same Social Security number in Arizona.
This article seeks to explore the veracity of this claim, scrutinizing the sources, evidence, and responses from officials and experts.
The allegation originated from social media posts and was amplified by various conservative commentators and websites.
The claim suggested a massive voter fraud scheme involving undocumented immigrants who allegedly used the same Social Security number to vote in the 2020 election in Arizona, a key battleground state.
Arizona election officials and various independent fact-checking organizations promptly investigated the claim. The Arizona Secretary of State’s office, responsible for overseeing elections, categorically denied the allegation.
A spokesperson stated, “There is no evidence to support the claim that 10,000 undocumented immigrants voted using the same Social Security number. Our voter registration and election systems have robust safeguards to prevent such occurrences.”
Additionally, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, declared the 2020 election “the most secure in American history.” CISA and other federal agencies found no evidence of widespread voter fraud, including the specific claim regarding Arizona.
Experts in election law and cybersecurity also weighed in on the feasibility of the claim. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, noted that the logistics of such a scheme would be implausible. “Voter registration systems across states are interconnected and designed to detect anomalies, such as multiple registrations under the same Social Security number. The idea that 10,000 individuals could vote using the same number without detection is far-fetched,” Becker explained.
Moreover, undocumented immigrants typically avoid interactions with government systems, such as Social Security, due to the risk of deportation.
The likelihood of 10,000 undocumented individuals conspiring to commit voter fraud in such a blatant manner is highly unlikely, according to immigration experts.
Multiple fact-checking organizations, including PolitiFact, Snopes, and FactCheck.org, investigated the claim and rated it as false. They found no credible evidence to support the notion that such an incident occurred.
PolitiFact, for instance, pointed out that the claim appears to have originated from a misinterpretation of statistical data or was entirely fabricated to sow doubt about the election results.
In the wake of the 2020 election, numerous lawsuits were filed challenging the results in various states, including Arizona. However, these lawsuits, many of which alleged voter fraud, were overwhelmingly dismissed by courts due to lack of evidence.
The specific claim about 10,000 undocumented immigrants using the same Social Security number was not substantiated in any legal filing or court proceeding.
The spread of misinformation about the 2020 election, including the claim about undocumented immigrants voting, has had a significant impact on public trust in the electoral process.
A substantial portion of the American electorate remains skeptical about the election’s integrity, influenced by unverified claims and conspiracy theories.
Election officials and experts continue to emphasize the importance of verifying information through credible sources and understanding the rigorous processes in place to ensure election security.
Efforts to combat misinformation and educate the public are ongoing, as the integrity of future elections depends on restoring voter confidence.
The claim that 10,000 undocumented immigrants cast votes using the same Social Security number in Arizona’s 2020 election is unfounded and has been debunked by multiple sources.
As the nation moves forward, it is crucial to rely on verified information and trust in the electoral system’s integrity, reinforced by the diligent work of election officials and independent observers.
