Election officials question DHS claim of 250,000 noncitizens on voter rolls in four states
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State election officials have asked the Department of Homeland Security for details on its methodology after the agency alleged that more than 250,000 non-citizens were registered to vote in California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, a claim the states say lacks transparency.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told the secretaries of state in California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania that a preliminary review of public voter rolls identified roughly 118,000 registrations that matched a non-citizen in DHS records, part of a broader claim that over 250,000 non-citizens are illegally registered in the four states. The agency has not disclosed how it matched names, dates of birth, addresses and Social Security numbers, and public voter rolls do not contain Social Security data.
State officials responded with letters demanding a clear description of DHS’s methodology and the data sources used. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said, > "You're suing me because I wouldn't give you that data, that information. So where did you get it? How did you get it? And is it reliable?" California Secretary of State Shirley Weber wrote that her office had not shared voter registration lists with DHS and expressed serious doubts about the agency’s data. The letters also asked whether artificial-intelligence tools were employed and reminded the federal government of the National Voter Registration Act’s 90-day “quiet period” before the November midterms.
Experts noted that past attempts to identify non-citizens on voter rolls have produced many false positives, especially when unique identifiers such as Social Security numbers are not available. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said, > "These numbers, until they're backed up by any kind of clear, transparent methodology, should be considered made up."
The DHS analysis appears to have relied on a data-sharing agreement with the Justice Department that could have enriched public voter lists with immigration records, possibly using the SAVE system before a federal judge halted its use. A DOJ letter referenced a partnership that would allow DHS to add Social Security or immigration identifiers to voter data, but officials said such a process would likely generate inaccurate matches.
The controversy has raised concerns that the unverified figures could be used as a pretext for federal intervention in state election processes, including potential subpoenas or ballot seizures after the election. One anonymous state official warned that a post-election subpoena could disrupt close races and impede ballot counting. While some scholars argue the administration may be seeking to create uncertainty, they note that any action would still require judicial approval.
DHS has not responded to requests for methodological details. The agency’s letters indicated a willingness to provide resources to help states verify registrations, but the lack of specific voter names and the timing of the outreach—just before the quiet period—have led officials to question the intent behind the communications.