Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is introducing a bill to address a loophole in federal law by making it a felony for illegal immigrants to vote in U.S. elections. The proposed legislation seeks to align penalties for illegal voting by noncitizens with those for U.S. citizens who unlawfully vote.
Currently, federal law does not explicitly prohibit voting as an illegal immigrant. Gaetz's bill, named the JAIL for Alien Voters Act, would designate voting as a noncitizen in U.S. elections as a prohibited act, elevating the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony. The proposed penalty includes up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
