Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order requiring state executive agencies to include a disclaimer on voter registration forms, explicitly stating that noncitizens are prohibited from registering to vote and participating in elections.
The order was signed on Monday and aims to reinforce the limitations on voting rights as established by both federal law and the Louisiana Constitution.
Under federal law, voting in federal elections is restricted to U.S. citizens. Similarly, the Louisiana Constitution, specifically Article 1, Section 10, limits voting in any state elections to citizens. The newly mandated disclaimer will read:
“The Louisiana Constitution prohibits non-citizens from registering and voting. Therefore, it is illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in Louisiana.”
Governor Landry’s executive order comes in response to what he describes as a significant influx of undocumented immigrants under the Biden-Harris administration. The order expresses concern over the potential for unlawful voting by noncitizens, stating that:
“[A]ny vote cast unlawfully is a dilution of the votes cast by individuals lawfully registered to vote in the United States[.]”
During a press conference, Governor Landry emphasized the importance of upholding immigration laws while recognizing the nation’s history of welcoming immigrants.
He stated:
“[I]f we do, we disrespect all the great immigrants who came to America, who followed the process, who became a citizen and did it the right way.”
He also underscored that citizenship is the cornerstone of a constitutional republic, asserting that:
“[US] elections are a privilege reserved for American citizens because citizenship should mean something.”
Landry highlighted that American citizens are expected to uphold the principles of liberty, democracy, rule of law, and individual rights, which form the foundation of the country.
This executive order follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Arizona’s election law requiring proof of citizenship, further reinforcing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the voting process.
