The federal government is processing U.S. citizenship applications at its fastest pace in decades, with an average processing time of 4.9 months for naturalization applications in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. This is a significant improvement from just three years ago when it took around 11.5 months to process such applications. Since President Biden took office, 3.3 million immigrants have become naturalized citizens, in part due to the administration reducing the naturalization application to 14 pages and increasing the application fee to $710.
Green card holders become eligible for citizenship after five years of holding legal status, with some exceptions for those married to American citizens. The newly minted citizens will have rights not afforded to permanent residents, such as the right to vote in the upcoming election. The efficiency in processing naturalization applications is not just about clearing backlogs but is also potentially reshaping the electorate, with every citizenship application potentially impacting elections at all levels.
While it is unclear how many of the new citizens will be eligible to vote in critical swing states, all such states will see a growing number of newly minted U.S. citizens eligible to vote. Many of the eligible permanent residents for naturalization are Latinos, who have historically supported Democratic candidates. A survey showed that a significant percentage of naturalized citizens expressed eagerness to vote in the upcoming elections, with 81.4% indicating they would “definitely” vote in 2024 and another 14% saying they “probably” would.
In one instance, a ceremony in Georgia saw people from 19 different countries gather in a federal courthouse to become new U.S. citizens. This trend of increased naturalization applications and new citizens could potentially impact elections, including Senate races and the presidency. Every citizenship application could be a vote that helps decide the outcome of key political contests. The surge in naturalization efficiency is not only about processing applications more quickly but also has broader implications on the country’s political landscape.
The Biden administration’s efforts to streamline the naturalization process and increase the number of new citizens are expected to play a significant role in shaping the upcoming elections. The rights and responsibilities that come with U.S. citizenship, including the ability to vote, are seen as important factors for many immigrants who have gone through the naturalization process. These new citizens are eager to contribute to the country and make their voices heard through the democratic process. It remains to be seen how this influx of new citizens will impact electoral outcomes across the country.
