“Government shouldn’t treat voter registration like signing up for a rewards program,” Cuccinelli said. “Before encouraging anyone to register, officials should first determine whether that person is legally eligible to vote. That’s just common sense, and it’s exactly why the SAVE America Act is needed.”— Ken Cuccinelli, National Chairman, Election Transparency Initiative
Louisiana Voter Fraud Case Shows Why Congress Must Pass the SAVE America Act: Australian national allegedly voted in two federal elections after falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
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Arlington, VA — July 13, 2026 —The Election Transparency Initiative (ETI) today said the federal indictment and arrest of an Australian lawful permanent resident accused of illegally registering and voting in two federal elections demonstrates why Congress should immediately pass the SAVE America Act to establish uniform proof-of-citizenship requirements for federal voter registration nationwide.
Federal prosecutors allege Denise Nataly Migliore falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen in order to register to vote before casting ballots in the 2022 and 2024 federal elections. She has been charged with illegal voting in a federal election and making false statements to register to vote.
“The lesson isn’t simply that authorities caught one illegal voter,” said ETI National Chairman Ken Cuccinelli. “The lesson is that they caught this one because Louisiana had the tools and the commitment to look. Election integrity should not depend on discovering violations years after ballots have already been counted. Congress should help prevent this from happening in the first place.”
According to Louisiana election officials, the investigation originated through the state’s use of the federal SAVE database and the work of Louisiana’s Election Integrity Division in partnership with federal law enforcement. State officials noted that every illegal vote diminishes the value of a lawful citizen’s vote and erodes confidence in the election process.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the arrest earlier this week, stating that Homeland Security Investigations, working with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, arrested Migliore after she was indicted for allegedly falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally voting in two federal elections.
In media reports, Migliore said government agencies routinely encouraged her to register to vote as part of ordinary transactions without first asking whether she was eligible to vote. If that account is accurate, ETI said it illustrates how some voter registration efforts can prioritize increasing registrations over verifying eligibility. ETI emphasized that nothing about the registration process excuses falsely claiming U.S. citizenship or illegally voting. But it also demonstrates why government agencies should determine eligibility before encouraging anyone to register to vote.
ETI said Americans who want to register to vote already have access to state and local election offices specifically charged with administering voter registration and determining eligibility. Government agencies that offer voter registration should ensure eligibility is established before encouraging anyone to register.
“Safeguards are not put in place because violations happen every day,” Cuccinelli said. “We require signature verification, chain-of-custody procedures, bipartisan poll workers, and voter registration because preventative measures strengthen public confidence and deter misconduct before it occurs. Proof of citizenship belongs in that same category.”
The SAVE America Act Puts Prevention Before Prosecution.
ETI said the case also illustrates the difference between asking an applicant to attest to U.S. citizenship and requiring documentary proof of citizenship. The SAVE America Act would update the federal voter registration requirements established by Congress by requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. ETI said the legislation does not federalize election administration, leaving states responsible for administering their own elections while creating a uniform federal registration standard that helps prevent ineligible registrations before they occur, rather than relying on criminal investigations after elections have concluded.
“Congress shouldn’t wait for the next prosecution before strengthening federal voter registration law,” Cuccinelli continued, “The SAVE America Act puts eligibility back where it belongs: at the beginning of the process, instead of after an investigation and criminal indictment.”
ETI noted that Louisiana deserves credit for proactively identifying the alleged violation through citizenship-verification efforts and cooperation with federal authorities. Rather than treating this case as an isolated prosecution, Congress should view it as evidence that effective safeguards can identify vulnerabilities and protect lawful voters.
“Every illegal vote cancels the voice of a lawful American voter,” Cuccinelli concluded. “Louisiana demonstrated that verification works. Congress now has an opportunity to build on that success by passing the SAVE America Act and ensuring citizenship is verified before a voter is registered—not after an illegal ballot has been cast.”
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About the Election Transparency Initiative
The Election Transparency Initiative (ETI) was established as a partnership between the American Principles Project (APP) and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. ETI works nationwide to advance commonsense election reforms that protect the integrity of the vote and strengthen public trust in election outcomes through policies that enhance transparency, accountability, and confidence in American elections. ETI is chaired by Ken Cuccinelli, who previously served as Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as Attorney General of Virginia.
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