The U.S. Census Bureau has identified 24,000 votes cast by noncitizens in the 2020 election, according to an ongoing analysis of voter records linked to citizenship data. The preliminary findings, released Tuesday, cover an initial review of 128 million voter records, with officials stating that 32 million additional records remain under analysis.
The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau confirmed the preliminary results in a statement, noting that the review process is continuing. President Donald Trump cited the findings on social media, asserting that the numbers could grow significantly once the full dataset is examined. "The Census Bureau has begun checking the Voter Records from 2020 against their Citizenship Records. On the first 128,000,000 Voters, the Census Bureau proves that over 24,000 Noncitizens voted illegally!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The Census Bureau is going to analyze the next 32,000,000 Voters, and this number will explode."
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick echoed the president’s remarks, emphasizing the scope of the ongoing review. "The Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau just released its analysis showing more than 24,000 noncitizens illegally voted in the 2020 election," Lutnick posted on X. "Not just registered but literally illegally voted. And that is just the beginning. More than 32 million more voters’ records will be analyzed in the coming weeks, and these records will likely show tens of thousands of additional illegal voters."
Election Impact and Context
The preliminary report does not indicate that the identified noncitizen votes altered the outcome of the 2020 election. Joe Biden won the presidency by 74 electoral votes, with margins exceeding 10,000 votes in key swing states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Even if all 24,000 noncitizen votes were allocated to Trump, the results in these states would not have changed the final outcome.
The Census Bureau’s analysis compares voter registration records with citizenship data to identify discrepancies. Officials have not provided a timeline for the completion of the full review, though Lutnick stated that transparency was a priority. "The American people deserve transparency," he said. "We are making sure the facts are out for everyone to see."
Reactions and Political Responses
Trump seized on the findings to reiterate his claims of election fraud. "I WON THE ELECTION!" he posted on Truth Social, referencing the preliminary data. His statement did not address the lack of evidence suggesting the noncitizen votes would have changed the election results.
The release of the preliminary data has reignited debates over election integrity and the reliability of voter registration systems. Critics argue that isolated cases of noncitizen voting do not substantiate broader claims of systemic fraud, while supporters of stricter voting laws contend that even small numbers of illegal votes undermine public trust in elections.
The Census Bureau has not released additional details about the methodology used in the analysis, and the full dataset has not yet been made public. The agency has stated that further updates will be provided as the review progresses.