Florida – Elon Musk, the South African-born billionaire and CEO of several major companies, has been pretty vocal in the past about the immigration crisis America faces, accusing the Biden administration of not doing enough to secure the southern border. Musk has even suggested that the administration’s policies are deliberately designed to encourage undocumented immigrants, in the hope that they might support the Democratic Party in future elections. Nonetheless, Musk’s comments should not be interpreted as an explicit endorsement of Trump’s presidential aspirations.
This is obvious.
Incentives drive behavior.
Until the loss of votes from ushering in vast numbers of illegal immigrants exceeds the likely gain of votes over time (as they are gradually legalized), the Democratic Party has a strong incentive to maximize illegal immigration. https://t.co/lOiWTNHAjJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 6, 2024
Controversial Claims on Voting Integrity
Recently, Musk made headlines again with his bold claim that the 2024 presidential election could be the last one decided by U.S. citizens. Using his social media platform, X, Musk blamed an “influx” of illegal immigrants being allowed to vote. His comments came in response to news that Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a bill requiring citizenship status to be included in the ten-yearly census, a move that faced strong opposition from the White House.
“Unanimous Democrat opposition to requiring citizenship for apportionment of House seats and Presidential electoral college votes says it all,” Musk posted. He further claimed, “The Democratic Party goal is to disenfranchise US citizens by importing as many illegal immigrants as possible. Given the massive influx of illegals from every country on Earth, 2024 will probably be the last election actually decided by US citizens.”
The Democratic Party goal is to disenfranchise US citizens by importing as many illegal immigrants as possible
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2024
Given the massive influx of illegals from every country on Earth, 2024 will probably be the last election actually decided by US citizens
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2024
The Equal Representation Act
The bill, known as the Equal Representation Act, aims to change how congressional seat allocations are determined by adding a requirement for citizenship status on the census form. Currently, congressional seats are allocated based on the total population of a state, including non-citizens. GOP lawmakers argue that this change would ensure that only American citizens are counted for electoral apportionment.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson commented on the bill, stating, “We should not reward states and cities that violate federal immigration laws and maintain sanctuary policies with increased Congressional representation. Common sense dictates that only American citizens should be counted for electoral apportionment, and the Equal Representation Act ensures that.”
White House Opposition
The Biden Administration has expressed strong opposition to the bill, arguing that it would violate the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which mandates that the census count the “whole number of persons” in each state. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that the census remains as accurate as possible and free from political interference, and to upholding the longstanding principle of equal representation enshrined in our Constitution, census statutes, and historical tradition,” a White House statement read.
Musk’s Criticism and Broader Immigration Debate
Despite having voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 election, Musk has been vocal in his criticism of the President’s immigration policies, particularly those concerning the U.S.-Mexico border. However, Musk has also advocated for a more efficient and quicker legal immigration process, aligning with some of the President’s stated goals.
The USA only has ~4% of Earth’s population. Just 1% of Earth moving to America would overwhelm essential medical and other services.
It’s not sustainable.
As always, I’m very much in favor of *legal* immigration. Anyone smart, hardworking and honest should be welcome here. https://t.co/M2TmdbETds
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2024
Musk’s latest comments appear to align more closely with the GOP’s viewpoint that immigration, particularly in the southwestern United States, is running unchecked. This perception has driven the recent push for legislation like the Equal Representation Act.
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Demographic Shifts and Voting Rights
Between 2018 and 2022, at least 80 percent of Republican voters were White, while 30-40 percent of Democrat voters were non-White. The demographic changes are significant, with the percentage of Hispanic eligible voters expected to reach a record high in 2024. According to the Pew Research Center, California is home to a quarter of these Hispanic eligible voters.
Figures from the American Immigration Council show that there are around 45.2 million people who count as part of the U.S. immigrant population, which is about 13 percent of the country’s total population. Of these, approximately 53 percent are naturalized American citizens and eligible to vote.
The GOP-backed bill targets non-citizens, aiming to exclude them from population counts used for congressional seat allocation and keeping them away from the ballot box. However, claims that introducing this bill would make elections more secure have been widely debunked, given that many states and municipalities do not allow non-citizens to vote in elections.
Legislative Actions and Reactions
In November, voters in Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin will vote on changing their state constitutions to ensure only U.S. citizens can vote. This follows similar moves in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Ohio in recent years.
Meanwhile, New York City lawmakers are considering expanding voting rights to some non-citizens, specifically permanent residents and individuals with work authorizations, allowing them to vote in local elections. This proposal does not extend to undocumented immigrants or the influx of new arrivals that Musk referenced.
The Broader Debate
Musk’s comments and the GOP’s legislative efforts highlight the ongoing and contentious debate over immigration and voting rights in the United States. While the Equal Representation Act is presented as a measure to ensure fairness in congressional seat allocations, critics argue it undermines the principle of equal representation.
“The Democratic Party goal is to disenfranchise US citizens by importing as many illegal immigrants as possible,” Musk claimed. This statement encapsulates the broader fears among some Republicans that increasing immigrant populations could shift political power dynamics.
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Elon Musk’s assertion that the 2024 presidential election may be the last one decided by U.S. citizens has added fuel to the already heated debate over immigration and voting rights. As the legislative battle over the Equal Representation Act unfolds, the focus remains on how these changes could impact the future of American democracy. Whether Musk’s dire predictions will come true or not, the discussions they have sparked are likely to continue shaping political discourse in the lead-up to the next election and beyond.
