Republican States Settle Lawsuits Over Voter Citizenship Data with Federal Government

Thu Dec 04 2025 02:16:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Four Republican-led states reached an agreement with the federal government regarding citizenship data for voters, reshaping the landscape before the upcoming elections.

Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio have settled lawsuits against the Biden administration regarding access to voters' citizenship data. This decision allows the states to verify thousands of voters' citizenship status using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, which has been updated for efficiency. The settlements raise concerns among voting rights groups about the potential for eligible voters to be mistakenly purged from voter lists. As the 2024 election approaches, this issue is likely to be a central topic of discussion.

Four Republican-led states have settled disputes with the Biden administration regarding access to critical citizenship data needed for verifying voter registration ahead of the pivotal 2024 presidential election. The states of Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio reached this agreement with the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem, concluding lawsuits that began earlier this year as each state sought to address concerns over voter eligibility based on citizenship status.

The settlement allows these states to utilize the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, an already existing initiative that has recently been updated to facilitate faster searches of voters' citizenship status using personal information such as names, birthdays, and Social Security numbers. Under the terms of the agreement, the states will also provide driver’s license information to the federal government, enhancing the system's functionality.

This new access has significant implications for the upcoming midterm elections and could become a contentious issue, as voting rights advocates have expressed concern that these measures may inadvertently lead to the wrongful purging of eligible voters from registration lists. Meanwhile, the former Trump administration had previously requested that several states submit complete voter rolls to initiate further investigations into voting practices, raising alarms among Democratic officials.

Despite the illegality of noncitizen voting in federal elections—punishable by felony charges and potential deportation—the topic remains a hot-button issue. Claims of widespread noncitizen voting, suggested by former President Trump without solid evidence during his campaign, emphasize a key narrative for many Republican candidates regarding electoral integrity.

The SAVE program, effective for decades, is set to undergo further refinement as the states agree to collaborate with Washington in drafting a memorandum of understanding within 90 days, aiming to improve functionalities and safeguards surrounding voter registration processes.