Trump Administration’s Voter Verification Process Raises Concerns

In a controversial effort ahead of the November elections, the Trump administration has processed millions of voter registrations through government databases to verify their eligibility. Critics fear this move may purge valid voters from the rolls.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has enhanced its verification program, reviewing at least 67 million registrations predominantly from Republican-controlled states. Tens of thousands have been flagged as possible noncitizens or as deceased individuals. Some states give people a month to prove eligibility; others suspend registrations immediately.

This national scanning of voter rolls aligns with President Trump’s push to federalize certain election functions, promoting his view that elections are undermined by noncitizen voting. However, these instances are rare, according to voting and civil rights groups.

If wrongly removed, voters might miss the chance to vote in an election, stated Freda Levenson, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. The organization is challenging Ohio’s law mandating monthly checks using the DHS system.

Voters like Anthony Nel find themselves affected. Nel, originally from South Africa and now a U.S. citizen for over a decade, was flagged as a potential noncitizen when Texas processed voter data through the DHS system. This action led to a temporary cancellation of his registration.

The Trump administration aims to overhaul U.S. elections, urging a federal list of verified voters and pressing states to provide unredacted voter information for the DHS program known as SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements).

The Justice Department has taken legal action against states that refuse cooperation, arguing that accurate voter lists are required by federal law. SAVE’s purpose, initially to prevent noncitizens from receiving government benefits, is now utilized by over 1,300 agencies for voter verification.

Since April 2025, 25 states have used SAVE for voter roll checks. More than 60 million registrations were examined within a one-year period, excluding an additional 7.4 million from North Carolina.

Citizenship and Immigration Services defends SAVE, claiming it helps eliminate voter fraud and restore trust in elections. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab acknowledged SAVE’s importance for states verifying voter information.

While SAVE searches have identified 24,000 potential noncitizens and 350,000 deceased individuals, these figures represent a small percentage of overall registered voters.

Nevertheless, mistakes occur. In Dallas, Domingo Garcia, a long-time voter, had his registration canceled without explanation, suspecting officials erroneously marked him as deceased.

Various lawsuits challenge SAVE checks, alleging they disenfranchise voters through outdated or incomplete data.

Despite receiving a letter identifying him as a potential noncitizen, Nel missed the 30-day deadline to prove his status due to passport delays.

The current system is ineffective, he says.

Republican officials acknowledge SAVE isn’t flawless; it is merely a preliminary step for further investigation. States like Kansas and Texas enact processes allowing voters to correct flagged registrations and potentially vote, albeit with ballots set aside for review.

Ohio, implementing a new law requires monthly registration checks and prompt cancellation for identified noncitizens, with proof of citizenship necessary to restore voting rights.

LaRose assures that registration status can be immediately restored with proof, though Levenson contends this approach is akin to shooting first and asking questions later.