Trump Administration Expands Voter Eligibility Checks Using DHS Database

U.S. Department of Homeland Security database to check eligibility. The process has flagged tens of thousands of entries as potential noncitizens or deceased individuals. At least 25 states have used the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program since April 2025. 4 million registrations from North Carolina were checked recently.

The SAVE system was created under federal immigration law to help agencies confirm eligibility for government benefits. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported that more than 1,300 agencies currently use the system. The Trump administration expanded the program's search capabilities in 2025.

The Justice Department has sued states that declined to provide unredacted voter data for the checks.

Democratic officials in several states have filed court challenges against the expanded verification process. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is contesting a state law that requires monthly checks with the DHS system. U.S. citizen from South Africa, have been affected.

Texas temporarily canceled his registration last fall while he awaited a new passport. "If a voter is wrongly removed, by the time they learn about it and correct it, they may miss their opportunity to vote in that election," said Freda Levenson, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio.