DHS identifies nearly 278,000 non-citizens on voter rolls
DHS identified 278,000 non-citizen voters; Trump orders removal and proposes eligibility verification legislation.
Event / Politics
US Election Integrity Issues
Ongoing disputes and court cases regarding US election integrity, voter verification systems, and election administration procedures
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2026-08-05 to 2026-11-02 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 17 Jul, 09:00 UTC
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What happened
Trump administration modified voter verification system to enable broader database searches
In March 2026, President Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to establish systems allowing state and local governments to verify voter citizenship and immigration status. The agencies then modified the SAVE database to include records of U.S.-born citizens, grant it access to Social Security numbers, and allow users to conduct multiple simultaneous searches. The Trump administration argued the database complies with law and stated voting rights groups had not demonstrated sufficient harm to their members from the database.
Supreme Court's three liberal justices dissent from voter verification database ruling
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in her dissent that the harm caused by burdening or disenfranchising even a few lawful voters outweighs any nonexistent harm the government experiences when prevented from taking an action it likely lacks authority to take. The three liberal justices opposed the majority's decision allowing use of the revamped voter verification database.
Lower court had blocked voter verification database citing privacy and accuracy concerns
U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan in Washington D.C. issued a ruling on June 22, 2026, blocking use of the revised SAVE database. Judge Sooknanan found that the government violated privacy protections Congress had established and included citizenship data the government knew was unreliable. She cited instances where naturalized citizens in Texas had their voter registrations wrongfully cancelled because they did not respond quickly enough to state requests for citizenship confirmation. The judge concluded that the federal government had 'knowingly trampled on the privacy rights of American citizens in a manner that threatens the sacred right to vote.'
Supreme Court allows Trump administration's revised voter verification database
The Supreme Court on September 25, 2026, allowed the Trump administration to use a revamped immigration database to verify voter citizenship for state and local election officials. The database, known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, was modified in 2025 to enable bulk searches and searches using Social Security numbers. The ruling overturned a June 22, 2026 federal court injunction by U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan that had blocked the database's use. The Supreme Court majority held that the federal government has an obligation to respond to requests from state and local officials to verify voter citizenship and that the lower court's order prevented use of a program the government believes is best suited for the task.
Supreme Court restricts voter verification database use until November 2026 midterm elections
The Supreme Court ruling determined that federal law prohibits election officials from mass clearings of voter rolls near an election, limiting database use to inquiries about individual voters. The revised SAVE database can therefore be used only for individual voter citizenship verifications rather than bulk removals of voters from rolls ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
Representative introduces resolution to remove federal judge over voter database injunction
Two weeks after Judge Sooknanan issued her injunction blocking the SAVE database, Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Arizona) introduced a resolution to remove her from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging abuse of judicial authority. Hamadeh stated the judge substituted her judgment for that of the duly elected Executive Branch and called the ruling a 'blatant and unlawful subversion of the President's executive authority and a direct assault on election integrity.' The articles of impeachment remain stalled in committee.
Former USPS letter carrier indicted for discarding approximately 300 mail-in ballots in Utah
Damon Matai Seei, 34, of Payson, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 16 on charges of unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail. Seei was working as a letter carrier on June 3 when he was responsible for delivering mail, including approximately 300 mail-in ballots for the June 23 primary election, to residents in the Eagle Mountain area. According to federal authorities, Seei discarded the mail in a dumpster located in a church parking lot approximately 1.5 hours into his shift. He allegedly told investigators he threw away the mail to lighten his workload and go home earlier, not for political reasons.
Federal charges carry maximum five-year prison sentence for mail-in ballot destruction
Damon Matai Seei faces one count of unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and/or a substantial fine. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 30. The case was jointly investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations.
Mail-in ballots discarded on June 3 in Eagle Mountain, Utah primary election
On June 3, approximately 300 mail-in ballots intended for registered voters in the Eagle Mountain area of Utah were discarded in a dumpster by a USPS letter carrier. These ballots were scheduled for delivery ahead of the June 23 primary election. Following the incident, numerous voters in the area complained to Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson about not receiving their ballots. An investigation found voter participation in the area was remarkably low, with an estimated 304 registered voters never receiving their ballots.
Federal judge blocks SAVE citizenship database citing privacy violations
U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ruled in June that the Trump administration violated federal law by creating the SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database. The judge found that the database, which contains Americans' private information including Social Security numbers, was used by some states to incorrectly remove U.S. citizens from voter rolls. Sooknanan concluded the administration violated three separate federal laws and stated the government "knowingly trampled on the privacy rights of American citizens in a manner that threatens the sacred right to vote."
Supreme Court asked to review new Postal Service mail voting rules for midterm elections
The Trump administration filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court requesting reinstatement of new Postal Service rules affecting mail voting procedures in the approaching midterm elections.
Trump signs executive order creating SAVE citizenship verification system
President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to create the SAVE database to verify citizenship and immigration status of individuals registering to vote. The order sought to impose a new proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration. The SAVE system was modified to include records of natural-born citizens, access to Social Security Administration records including Social Security numbers, and to permit bulk searches by entities using the database.
Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court to reinstate SAVE database
On September 8, 2026, the Trump administration filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court requesting it overturn the lower court's block on the SAVE citizenship verification database. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued the judge's ruling was "indefensible" and "threatens the integrity of upcoming elections." The administration contended that voting rights groups lacked legal standing to challenge the system and argued SAVE merely notifies states of citizenship status without disqualifying voters.
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejects Trump administration's bid to pause lower court block
Over the weekend prior to September 8, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected the Trump administration's request to stay (pause) the district court order blocking use of the SAVE database pending appeal.
SAVE America Act passed by House, stalled in Senate
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require documented proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, passed the GOP-led House but remains stalled in the Senate where some Republican members express skepticism about its provisions. A 2025 University of Maryland study estimates that 21.3 million eligible U.S. voters lack or do not have easy access to documents proving their citizenship.
DHS alleges nearly 250,000 noncitizens registered to vote in four states
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sent letters to California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in July alleging that as many as nearly 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in those states. State election officials expressed skepticism and requested detailed methodology, which DHS had not yet provided.
U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles arrests Honduran national for fraudulent voter registration
The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles arrested a Honduran national on charges of fraudulently registering to vote. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli indicated the arrest was the first of many to come and warned about the unknown number of noncitizens potentially registered to vote in California.
New Jersey identifies 6,600 improperly registered noncitizens, fewer than 400 voted
New Jersey disclosed that approximately 6,600 noncitizens were improperly registered to vote through its motor vehicle system in 2023 and 2024. These individuals had answered 'no' when asked if they were citizens but were registered anyway. Governor Mikie Sherrill stated that fewer than 400 of these improperly registered individuals had actually voted, and the state began replacing the vendor responsible for the registrations.
Pennsylvania officials say DHS lacks confidence in noncitizen voter data
Pennsylvania's Republican Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reported that DHS officials acknowledged during a meeting they did not have high confidence that the 14,576 people referenced in their noncitizen voter claims were actually noncitizens improperly registered to vote. Federal officials promised to provide the methodology underlying their claims, and Pennsylvania officials said they were awaiting that information.
Maine Republican governor candidate plans to deploy federal agents to polling places
The Republican candidate for governor of Maine confirmed an audio recording in which he stated plans to ask Trump's border czar to send U.S. marshals and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling places in the state to ensure only legal voters cast ballots.
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2 alternative perspectives
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