FBI Drops Nevada Noncitizen Voting Probe, No Evidence Found

Allegations of noncitizens voting in 2020 election unsubstantiated, investigation closed

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:19pm

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The FBI has closed an investigation into allegations of noncitizens voting in the 2020 election in Nevada, according to a report from CBS News. Interim U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah had provided the FBI with a thumb drive claiming it would show non-citizens had voted, but the review found only about 38 potential noncitizens in the file, and the statute of limitations had expired. Nevada officials have repeatedly stated there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud or noncitizens voting in the 2020 election.

Why it matters

The claims of noncitizen voting in Nevada have been a major focus for former President Trump and state/national Republicans, who have filed lawsuits and made unsubstantiated allegations of widespread fraud. The closure of this FBI investigation underscores the lack of evidence to support these claims, which have been repeatedly rejected by election officials and the courts.

The details

According to the CBS report, the FBI review found around 38 potential noncitizens in the file provided by Chattah, but it was unclear if any of them had actually voted. The FBI also told Chattah that the statute of limitations had expired, preventing any potential charges. Nevada officials have previously stated there is no evidence of noncitizens voting in the 2020 election, and a 2018 state law automatically registers eligible citizens to vote at the DMV.

  • In August 2022, Interim U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah told 8 News Now that her office was investigating an election-related case and would make an announcement in the next few weeks.
  • No such announcement was ever made by Chattah's office.
  • The FBI review and closure of the investigation occurred in 2026, according to the CBS News report.

The players

Sigal Chattah

Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada, appointed by former President Trump, who initiated the investigation into alleged noncitizen voting.

Barbara Cegavske

Former Nevada Secretary of State, a Republican, who stated there was no evidence of noncitizens voting in the 2020 election.

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What they’re saying

“We prosecute the crime, not the criminal. Period. End of story. It's a non-partisan issue. Whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, or you know, you're legally here, illegally here, whatever your crime is, we prosecute the criminal.”

— Sigal Chattah, Interim U.S. Attorney (8newsnow.com)

“In the five years before the 2020 election — from 2015 to 2020 — nearly 41,000 documented immigrants became naturalized citizens in Nevada.”

— Barbara Cegavske, Former Nevada Secretary of State (8newsnow.com)

What’s next

It is unclear if the FBI or any other federal authorities will pursue further investigations into allegations of noncitizen voting in Nevada. The closure of this probe may signal the end of these claims, at least at the federal level.

The takeaway

This case highlights the lack of evidence to support persistent claims of widespread voter fraud and noncitizen voting in Nevada, despite repeated efforts by Trump and state/national Republicans to investigate these allegations. Election officials have consistently stated there is no proof to back up these claims, which have been rejected by the courts.