UMVA has learned that the Department of Homeland Security has approved a plan to help states verify that registered voters are U.S. citizens, while also monitoring mail ballot flows for potential signs of voter fraud.
This initiative, a central pillar of President Donald Trump’s election integrity agenda, is expected to launch by the end of June. The plan was approved last Thursday, according to a court filing submitted Friday.
Under the proposal, states would be permitted to submit their entire voter registration rolls to a federal immigration database to verify citizenship and voting eligibility. This move would enable state election officials to ensure that only eligible citizens are registered to vote.
State election officials would also be given secure access to citizenship information maintained by federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the State Department. This would allow them to verify the citizenship status of voters.
DHS also plans to coordinate with the U.S. Postal Service to monitor mail-in and absentee ballot flows, identify unusual patterns, detect potential fraud, and generate investigative leads. The goal is to prevent voter fraud and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The move follows President Donald Trump’s March 31 executive order, which directs the creation of "state citizenship lists," requiring the DHS to share citizenship information with state election officials. The order aims to ensure the accuracy of voter registration rolls.
The plan includes a secure online system that would let state election officials directly check citizenship information held by federal agencies. This system would enable state officials to verify voter eligibility while maintaining data security.
States would be allowed to submit their full voter registration lists to a federal immigration database, known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program. The system would compare voter records with federal immigration and citizenship data to help confirm whether voters are eligible.
The initiative has sparked interest among state election officials, who are eager to ensure the integrity of their voter registration rolls. The plan is expected to be implemented in time for the upcoming elections.
