Lake County Gazette

Jay Swidler, chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans, has expressed concerns that Illinois is undermining election integrity by not adhering to President Trump's executive order requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. Swidler made his statement to the Lake County Gazette on April 9.

"Illinois is failing to uphold President Trump's executive order aimed at protecting the integrity of U.S. elections," said Swidler. "By not requiring voters to show proof of citizenship, the state defies federal guidelines. This lack of enforcement compromises the legitimacy of the voting process. The people of Illinois deserve to know their elections are secure and free from fraud."

According to Capitol News Illinois, despite a new executive order from President Trump mandating documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, Illinois voters in the April 1 consolidated elections were not required to provide such documentation. Under the National Voter Registration Act, Illinois law only requires voters to sign a sworn statement affirming their citizenship and does not mandate photo identification at polling stations. Trump's order calls for changes to federal voter registration forms and threatens to withhold election funds from states that do not comply. Acceptable documents include passports, REAL ID-compliant licenses, and certain military or government-issued IDs.

In a post on the White House website dated March 25, the Executive Order titled ‘Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections’ outlines its objectives. The Order states: "Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic. The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election."

The Illinois Policy Institute reported on recent legislative efforts aimed at granting noncitizens voting rights. According to the Institute, Chicago hosts over 43,000 migrants and approximately 425,000 noncitizens reside in Illinois. Recent legislative attempts included Senate Bill 1345 in 2023, which would have allowed noncitizens with children attending local schools to vote in school board elections; however, it failed. Similarly unsuccessful was an ordinance introduced in Evanston’s City Council in late 2023 that sought to permit noncitizens with defined legal status to vote in local elections.

Swidler was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Vernon Township voters."