Registered to vote in error and have submitted N-400--HELP

J

jumper8

Registered Users (C)
This forum seem to have lots of folks who know how the system work.I have a question that have been troubling me since I have applied for citizenship...My application is already sent,and waiting for interview letter.

When I first arrived to the U.S,I went to get my driver license and they automatically registered me to vote.I had no idea I was registered until I recieved a letter in the mail about my voter's card...
In missouri,driving test is performed by the highway patrol,and they issue you a passing grade document(if you pass) which one takes it to a state contracted office that prints out the driver license. In my case at this office,they never asked me if I was a citizen or not,and then registered me to vote...as far as I can recall,they may have just had me sign it...

So I know you have to be US citizen to vote,and I have read dozen of case where citizenship applicants actually voted and were denied or put under removal proceedings when they told that to the officer at the time of interview in violation of:
INA sec 237(a)(6)(A)

1.is there a difference between "registering to vote" and "actually voting"...because "only" registering to vote,I can see that one can be found "falsely claiming" US citizenship,but "voting" is "voting fraud + falsely claiming US citizenship."
I heard that they usually dont deny if someone only registered to vote,but never voted because sometimes,new immigrants make innocent mistakes,and people usually can pretty much get registered to vote walking down the street since there is usually voter registration drive going on....and most of the time,US citizens themselves are confused as to who can and cannot register to vote or vote!!!

2.I read someone online that some told INS officer about "only registering to vote" and were only asked to remove their name from the voter's list and they would be fine since they did not actually voted....

Do someone here have any experience with this situation?...

I was only registered to vote without my knowledge(and more importantly never voted) and I thought then that, if you dont vote,they will automtically remove you from the list,but they sent me the voters card a year ago...They have now taken my name off the list.....

I am looking for somoene with a similar experience or who knew about such a case...

Please let me know if you guys know anything...:confused:
 
No law broken...

If you did not vote you never broke any law. Just because your registar to vote without your knowledge is not breaking the law. The question ask if you ever voted on your application which you can say honestly say no. Don't sweat it.
 
Thanks Tony28270 for replying...I was thinking like this also..I have never come across such a case but I have heard this could be problem because someone in the past was denied and he appealed it....I am just confused and really worried now and hoping someone who has gone thru thesame xperience to share....Thanks for your advice..
 
Look in the forum, a few months ago someone posted the same question. I think the answer given was pretty much the same you've got, but I don't know if that person got citizenship or not.
 
Huracan said:
Look in the forum, a few months ago someone posted the same question. I think the answer given was pretty much the same you've got, but I don't know if that person got citizenship or not.
Click to expand...

Hi Huracan,
Do you know about such a case or where to find it on here where someone was either successful or not?
 
I think its a gray area. There is some guidance concerning "false claim to US citizenship" in the Adjudicators Field Guide, but it doesn't specifically address registering to vote vs actually voting.

http://www.uscis.gov/propub/ProPubVAP.jsp?dockey=724ce55f1a60168e48ce159d286150e2

My impression is that you will probably be ok since you didn't register in order to obtain a benefit. USCIS may see things differently however, and by then it'd be too late to do anything about it.
 
Jumper,
Did you sign that voter registration form? Because I fail to see how others can register a person without that person knowing.

I think your strongest supporting pt is that you never voted. What is the timeline of you case and also when was this voter reg done? I am a little stumped that they sent you a voter card after such a long time.
 
Someone directed me to a few case at this link : http://soundpolitics.com/archives/008835.html
It appears that those who voted were in much trouble and there was one who was only registered and was asked to verify that he never voted - that is proving a history of voter records,and prove that he took his name of the list...
See this file... http://soundpolitics.com/Webb_NonCitizenVoters.pdf

Is there any other recent cases out there...?
I think the wise thing to do at this point is to:
1.Take the prove that my name was taken off the list.
2.take a prove that I have never voted even though I was registered....
3.explain details of why i registered to vote...

these were the things they request from one of those guys from the story above...clearly,they are trying to build a case that either shows "intent' or not...i guess....I know they should'nt have made the mistake...but I would like to get your insights on this also...
What do you guys think???
 
jumper8 said:
Someone directed me to a few case at this link : http://soundpolitics.com/archives/008835.html
It appears that those who voted were in much trouble and there was one who was only registered and was asked to verify that he never voted - that is proving a history of voter records,and prove that he took his name of the list...
See this file... http://soundpolitics.com/Webb_NonCitizenVoters.pdf

Is there any other recent cases out there...?
I think the wise thing to do at this point is to:
1.Take the prove that my name was taken off the list.
2.take a prove that I have never voted even though I was registered....
3.explain details of why i registered to vote...

these were the things they request from one of those guys from the story above...clearly,they are trying to build a case that either shows "intent' or not...i guess....I know they should'nt have made the mistake...but I would like to get your insights on this also...
What do you guys think???
Click to expand...

What answer did you provide to question 2, Part 10. It does ask whether or not you have ever registered to vote? If you answered no, you could be turned down for lack of good moral character. I would definitely bring this up at the interview...
 
Someone directed me to a few case at this link :http://soundpolitics.com/archives/008835.html
It appears that those who voted were in much trouble and there was one who was only registered and was asked to verify that he never voted - that is proving a history of voter records,and prove that he took his name of the list...
See this file... http://soundpolitics.com/Webb_NonCitizenVoters.pdf

Is there any other recent cases out there...?
I think the wise thing to do at this point is to:
1.Take the prove that my name was taken off the list.
2.take a prove that I have never voted even though I was registered....
3.explain details of why i registered to vote...

these were the things they request from one of those guys from the story above...clearly,they are trying to build a case that either shows "intent' or not...i guess....I know they should'nt have made the mistake...but I would like to get your insights on this also...
 
jumper8 said:
They have now taken my name off the list.....
Click to expand...

How did they know to take your name off the list? Did you write to them to let them know that it was a mistake and request that youre name be removed? (or de-registered) If so, did you keep a copy of that letter?

Like others have said, as long as it wasn't your intent to register, I don't see any problems with it. :)
 
yes,I wrote to them asking them to deregister my name and they said they will mail me a letter saying so...I hope the fact that it was a registration in error,and I did not vote and have taken my name of the list,I hope would be enough for the officer to approve my application....
Just wish I would find someone with a successful similar experience
 
jumper8 said:
yes,I wrote to them asking them to deregister my name and they said they will mail me a letter saying so...I hope the fact that it was a registration in error,and I did not vote and have taken my name of the list,I hope would be enough for the officer to approve my application....
Just wish I would find someone with a successful similar experience
Click to expand...

It happens all the time since voter registration is automatically tied in with driver's license registration. When I originally got my state driver's license the first thing they asked was what political party I was affiliated with. I had to explain I wasn't a citizen and can't vote. So telling the IO you had inadvertently registered won't be an issue at interview.
 
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hi HUcan,
Thanks soo much for the reply and the links..They were helpful and I can see what other people went thru...

I think if I get prove of cancellation,and that I never voted,i hope i would end up being fine....
There was a case I read that the officer(who was pretty strict) ask for prove of cancellation,and that he never voted....

Hope it does not turn into a nightmare day of my interview...:confused:
 
In some jurisdictions, green card holders and even people on some types of visas are allowed to vote in local elections (e.g. voting for the mayor of the city, or on a resolution to change the town's property taxes). Even USCIS acknowledges this; see http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=4f719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

As a Permanent Resident you have most of the rights of a United States Citizen but there are some exceptions.

Rights
To live permanently in the United States provided you do not commit any actions that would make you removable (deportable) under the immigration law (section 237, Immigration and Nationality Act).
To be employed in the United States at any legal work of your qualification and choosing.
To be protected by all of the laws of the United States, your state of residence and local jurisdictions.
To vote in local elections where United States Citizenship is not required.
Exceptions
Some jobs will be limited to United States Citizens because of security concerns.
You may not vote in elections limited to United States Citizens.
Click to expand...

Find out what the rules are in your city and county. If you were indeed eligible to vote at that level, that is an iron-clad defense for registering to vote. But of course, you will have to print out the applicable laws (and bring them to the interview or include them with the N-400) and the decision may require supervisory review while to verify what the laws are.
 
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