Republican States Settle Lawsuits for Access to Voter Citizenship Data

Fri Dec 05 2025 07:19:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Four Republican-led states reach a settlement with the federal government, allowing access to voter citizenship data as a major decision ahead of the upcoming elections.

In a significant legal resolution, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio have settled their lawsuits against the federal government, securing access to voters’ citizenship data for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. This agreement is aimed at modernizing the information available to verify voter eligibility, potentially impacting voter registration processes and the ongoing discussions surrounding voting rights.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four Republican-led states agreed to settle lawsuits against the federal government over access to voters’ citizenship data, ending a dispute that began with the Biden administration preceding the 2024 presidential election.

Officials in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio entered the settlement with the Department of Homeland Security roughly a year after these states sued the agency. They alleged that the previous administration was withholding critical information about citizenship status necessary to ascertain if thousands of registered voters were eligible to cast a ballot.

Each state involved can now conduct searches for voter eligibility using names, birthdays, and Social Security numbers through the enhanced Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. The agreement stipulates that states may share driver's license records with the DHS to assist in modernizing its database.

This information-sharing aspect is expected to be a focal point during the 2026 midterm elections. Voting rights organizations have already positioned themselves against the expanded SAVE program, arguing that recent modifications could lead to eligible voters being wrongly purged from voter registries. Additionally, Trump’s DOJ has made requests for complete voter rolls from various states, raising further concerns among Democratic elections officials regarding potential misuse of the data.

It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, with violations leading to felony charges and deportation. State reviews have shown that noncitizen registration is rare, and actual voting by noncitizens is even less common.

Despite this, former President Trump promoted unfounded claims that noncitizens might vote in significant numbers capable of swaying election outcomes. Republican candidates across the country often assert that even a single instance of illegal voting by noncitizens is unacceptable.

The SAVE program, managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has long been used by local and state officials to confirm citizenship status for individuals applying for public benefits. Following a recent update, the program has been enhanced to allow bulk checks for voter eligibility without requiring identification numbers issued by the DHS.

As part of the settlement, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio are expected to create a memorandum of understanding with the federal government to govern the use of the SAVE program and plan future agreements to improve information sharing.