Federal tool aims to improve voter roll accuracy
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is rolling out a new nationwide citizenship verification system to help state and local election officials confirm the citizenship status of registered voters. Developed with support from the White House’s Governmental Efficiency team (DOGE), the tool integrates data from the Social Security Administration and immigration records to verify both naturalized and U.S.-born citizens.
SAVE System Expanded with New Capabilities
From limited checks to comprehensive validation
The initiative builds upon the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, which has historically been used to verify the legal status of noncitizens. Recent upgrades now allow mass queries using Social Security numbers and, in the future, partial identifiers such as the last four digits, name, and birth date, expanding access for election officials.
Some states have begun piloting the system, which has already processed over nine million voter records. However, questions remain about data security, post-verification data handling, and mechanisms to resolve potential errors.
Privacy and Transparency Concerns
Public debate over personal data usage remains open
Legal and electoral experts have raised concerns about the system’s rollout without public consultation or transparency. There is also uncertainty regarding whether voter data provided by states could be used in criminal or immigration enforcement actions.
While the system could potentially enhance voter roll accuracy and reduce documentation burdens, concerns persist about data reliability, the impact on voter rights, and maintaining a balance between election security and individual privacy.
