Supreme Court permits states to use SAVE database for citizenship checks
6 hours ago
- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states may use the federal SAVE database to verify voter citizenship, reversing lower court decisions that cited inaccuracies and potential disenfranchisement.
- The SAVE database was originally designed for immigration benefit eligibility but was repurposed under the Trump administration to screen voters, drawing criticism for being outdated and inaccurate.
- Voting rights groups sued, arguing that combining SAVE data with Social Security records violated privacy laws, including the Social Security Act and Privacy Act.
- Adoption of the database remains uncertain; most states have resisted federal citizenship verification efforts, and the Trump administration lost 23 federal cases trying to compel data sharing.
- Election experts say the ruling's impact on 2026 elections is limited due to federal laws barring voter registration changes within 90 days of an election.
- Dissenting justices noted that the majority granted a stay without full briefing or oral argument, and that DHS did not create a legally mandated system of records notice or allow public comment.
- Lower courts rejected the administration's legal reasoning, and the dissent argued the majority overrode privacy limits without thorough deliberation.