Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 27: US President Donald Trump has said he will offer a $1 million reward to anyone who reports voter fraud leading to an arrest and conviction, days ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Speaking to reporters on Monday before boarding Air Force One, Trump also said his administration was “starting that process” of deporting non-citizens who vote.
“I’m also going to be issuing $1 million bonus or reward or whatever you want to call it, for anybody that reports voter fraud, leading to the arrest and conviction of somebody. We’re giving that person $1 million,” Trump said.
A reporter told the President that he had “made it very clear that any non-citizen that votes would be automatically deported” and asked whether the policy would “clean up elections” and whether he planned to repeat the message at all his rallies.
“Well, I think so. And we do that and we’re starting that process,” Trump replied.
The White House has not released details on how the proposed reward would be paid, which agency would administer the programme or the legal authority under which it would operate.
Voting by non-citizens in federal elections is already a federal crime under US law and can lead to fines, imprisonment and removal from the country.
Trump’s remarks are expected to draw attention from immigrant communities, including Indian nationals living in the United States on green cards and temporary work visas, who are not eligible to vote in federal elections. Community groups have previously expressed concern that aggressive voter-roll checks could wrongly flag naturalised US citizens.
The announcement comes as Trump intensifies his campaign travel ahead of the midterm elections. He is scheduled to hold rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday, while Vice President JD Vance is campaigning in Howell, Michigan.
Trump has repeatedly questioned the integrity of US elections. On Monday, he also commented on elections in other countries, saying the vote count in Brazil “had a very bad look”. He also defended issuing two endorsements in Israel’s election.
Democrats have accused the administration of using law enforcement to intimidate voters ahead of the polls. Election officials in several states have said instances of non-citizen voting are rare.
The midterm elections will determine control of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Several Indian American candidates are also contesting seats across the country.