DHS Approves Voter Verification Plan
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has greenlit a strategy aimed at helping states confirm that registered voters are indeed U.S. citizens. This initiative also involves monitoring mail-in ballots to potentially spot any voter fraud, aligning with a key aspect of President Donald Trump’s push for election integrity.
This approval came last Thursday, and the rollout is anticipated to start by the end of June, as indicated in a court filing.
Under this plan, states will be allowed to check their entire voter registration lists against a federal immigration database to verify citizenship and eligibility to vote. Election officials will gain secure access to citizenship data managed by federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the State Department.
Furthermore, DHS intends to collaborate with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to keep an eye on mail-in and absentee ballots. This monitoring aims to uncover irregular patterns that could suggest fraud and to provide leads for further investigation.
This decision follows Trump’s executive order from March 31, titled “Verifying Citizenship and Ensuring Integrity in Federal Elections.” The order directs DHS to establish a “State Citizenship List” that identifies verified U.S. citizens aged 18 and older and to share this information with state election authorities.
Additionally, the USPS has indicated it cannot deliver mail-in ballots to anyone who isn’t on the state’s official list for mail-in voting. Every ballot envelope must be labeled as “Official Election Mail” and feature a unique tracking barcode to ensure only eligible voters participate.
States will have the opportunity to submit comprehensive voter registration lists to the Systematic Alien Eligibility Verification (SAVE) program—a federal immigration database. This system will help cross-reference voter records with federal immigration data, including Social Security Administration information, to determine voter eligibility.
Moreover, the plan outlines a secure online method for state election officials to directly access citizenship details held by federal agencies like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Social Security Administration. To safeguard this information, it will be securely stored within each agency’s systems, allowing state officials to conduct verifications through a protected portal.
