Republican States Settle Lawsuits Over Voters’ Citizenship Data

Fri Dec 05 2025 13:49:28 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

States agree to share driver’s license records with the federal government to verify voter eligibility, amid ongoing discussions on noncitizen voting.

In a significant move, four Republican-led states—Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio—have settled lawsuits against the federal government regarding access to citizenship information for voters. This agreement allows the states to use a federal verification program to search thousands of voter records to ensure voting eligibility as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The settlement also facilitates sharing driver’s license data with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance the voter verification process. Voting rights advocates, however, express concerns over potential unlawful purges of eligible voters from lists, highlighting the contentious atmosphere surrounding voting rights leading into the upcoming elections.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four Republican-led states have reached a settlement regarding lawsuits against the federal government over voters' citizenship data. The states—Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio—complained that the Biden administration was withholding crucial information that could identify whether registered voters were eligible to vote ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

As part of the settlement, the states can now access the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to conduct searches of thousands of voters using their names, birthdays, and Social Security numbers. This program, upgraded significantly during Donald Trump's administration, aims to improve the verification process.

Moreover, the states have agreed to share their driver’s license records with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to modernize its database, sparking discussions about voting rights and potential voter list purges. Voting rights groups have raised alarms, stating that the expanded information-sharing could lead to eligible voters mistakenly being removed from the rolls.

The topic is expected to become a focal point during the 2026 midterm elections, with challenges arising from various voter advocacy groups. Overall, as noncitizen voting remains illegal and rarely reported, many Republicans stress the importance of ensuring that even a single instance of illegal voting is unacceptable.