Noncitizen voting claims animate Trump’s attacks on midterms and set up potential result challenges

President Donald Trump and his allies are intensifying unsubstantiated claims of widespread noncitizen voting ahead of the November midterm elections, prompting concerns from election officials and voting rights advocates. A Census Bureau report cited by Trump alleging 24,000 noncitizens voted in 2020 has been criticized by experts for flawed methodology and potential false positives [citation:2][citation:11]. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has been unable to substantiate its July claim that 250,000 noncitizens are on voter rolls in four states, reportedly acknowledging to Nevada officials the initial numbers were an inflated "ceiling" [citation:1][citation:3]. In Maine, Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles confirmed plans to request ICE agents at polling places, a move the state's Democratic Secretary of State said is prohibited by law [citation:4]. Voting by noncitizens is exceptionally rare, with studies finding rates as low as 0.0001% [citation:10]. Critics argue the administration is setting the stage to challenge unfavorable election results [citation:6].