Media Matters, the Soros-funded left-wing media watchdog, made a big stink last summer about talk show host Michael Savage’s assertion that some illegal aliens vote. Here is what Savage is quoted as saying on his July 26, 2004, show:

“I’ll go down the list of people who should not have the right to vote. Let’s start with illegal aliens. Should they have the right to vote? Course they shouldn’t, but they do. They’re being courted by the Democrats as we speak.”

The so-called watchdogs at Media Matters responded, “Contrary to Savage’s assertion, the U.S. Constitution grants voting rights only to American citizens.”

As I pointed out at the time, numerous cities allow non-citizens (including illegal aliens) to vote in local elections. In addition, there is mounting evidence of participation by non-citizens in state and federal elections.

The latest evidence comes from the Houston Chronicle, which reported earlier this week that numerous non-citizens have voted in Harris County (”Loophole lets foreigners illegally vote,” January 16). According to the article,

Dozens of foreign citizens, and perhaps hundreds more, have been allowed to vote in U.S. elections in Harris County because of the county’s reliance on an “honor system” that effectively allows almost anyone to vote.

At least 35 foreign citizens either applied for or received voter cards last year by checking a box on the application saying they were U.S. citizens, said Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt, who also is the county’s voter registrar.

“If you check that you’re a citizen, you’ll get a card, unless we have some previous knowledge of your name,” he said. “If they check yes and they’re not a citizen, there is no database that is open to the public that I know of that you can check against.”

Besides the 35 confirmed noncitizen applicants last year, Bettencourt is investigating at least 70 others and will send a list of suspected offenders to the Harris County district attorney, who can charge them with a misdemeanor if they haven’t voted or a felony if they have. Although Bettencourt canceled the applications and registrations of the initial 35, he acknowledges there are sure to be more who have avoided detection.

“Because it’s an honor system, fraud certainly exists,” he said. “You never know what level of fraud you have, but we know of non-U.S. citizens voting, that’s for sure.”

While Media Matters’ falsely asserts that the U.S. Constitution denies voting rights to non-citizens, the Chronicle points out that “the U.S. Constitution is silent on the subject. Some states and municipalities have allowed foreign citizens living in the United States to vote. Texas, for example, didn’t require voters to be U.S. citizens until 1921.”

The Chronicle also confirms that “Several municipalities in Maryland allow foreign residents to vote in local elections. Similar proposals are under discussion in New York and San Francisco.”

Since Media Matters’ readers never hesitate to bombard me with e-mails when they think I’ve made an error, perhaps David Brock and the rest of the MM gang would appreciate hearing from you. Their e-mail address is mm-tips@mediamatters.org.

Update: Speaking of corrections, I never did hear back from Slate regarding the errors discussed here. I’m also still waiting for corrections from the Nation, Greg Robinson, and Paul Krugman.

Correction: It has been brought to my attention that Media Matters is not funded by George Soros or by any of Soros’s organizations. I regret the error, but stand by the rest of my post.

Update II, January 21, 2005: Media Matters has issued a correction. Good for them.

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