One of the freedoms that the United States gives to its citizens is the right to vote. This year on November 4, 2008, citizens all over our nation will exercise this right and help elect the president of the United States. This year is a historical election as both major parties bring forth candidates out of the stereotypical norm. If the Republicans take the presidency, our nation will have the first female vice president and if the Democrats take the presidency, our nation will have its first African American president. With all of the election hype: media advertisements “get out the vote “rallies, and everyone talking about the elections, one may forget that the right to vote is a privilege given only to U.S. Citizens.

Voting in an election when you do not have the eligibility to vote violates the law. In 1996, Congress enacted the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, making it a federal crime for non-citizens to vote in any federal election (or state election, unless authorized by state law). As a penalty, ineligible non-citizens who knowingly vote may be deported. Additionally, a non-citizen who falsely claims to be a United States citizen is in violation of this law.