Secretary Jacobsen Leads Coalition Urging DHS to Fortify Voter Verification Systems

HELENA, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen has joined 20 of her colleagues nationwide in urging Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to implement key improvements to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, a federal system designed to help states verify citizenship status and prevent noncitizen participation in elections.

In a collective letter, Jacobsen and her colleagues outlined several proposed enhancements to the SAVE system that they argue will strengthen election integrity, increase efficiency, and ensure that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote.

Strengthening Voter Verification Measures

The SAVE program, operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allows state and federal agencies to confirm an individual’s immigration status when determining eligibility for benefits or services. Some states use SAVE as a tool to verify citizenship for voter registration purposes, though access is often limited due to logistical constraints, high costs, and inconsistent federal guidance.

Jacobsen and her fellow Secretaries of State are calling on Secretary Noem to address these barriers by implementing practical reforms. Among the top priorities outlined in the letter are:

• Batch Processing of Voter Rolls: Currently, state election officials must check voter registrations one by one in SAVE, a time-consuming process that creates unnecessary administrative burdens. The proposed change would allow election offices to verify multiple individuals at once, significantly improving efficiency.
• Expanded Identifiers for Verification: Presently, SAVE searches require specific DHS-issued identifiers—such as Alien Identification Numbers or naturalization numbers—that election offices often do not have. The secretaries propose expanding the system to accept commonly collected voter registration data like Social Security numbers, birthdates, and driver’s license numbers to facilitate better matching.
• Eliminating Cost Barriers: The DHS currently charges both a user fee and a per-search fee for SAVE access, creating financial burdens on state election offices. The letter requests that states be granted free access to the program since its use directly benefits federal election security.
• Clearer Federal Guidance: Some courts have restricted states’ use of SAVE due to inconsistent federal instructions. The Secretaries of State are asking DHS to establish clear parameters on when and how election officials can utilize the system.
• Notifications on Naturalization: Election officials would benefit from DHS informing them when applicants for naturalization disclose prior voter registration or voting activity, helping states prevent improper participation by noncitizens.

Jacobsen: Enhancing Election Integrity in Montana

Secretary Jacobsen emphasized the importance of these proposed improvements for Montana, where election security remains a top concern for voters across the political spectrum.

“We appreciate Secretary Noem’s assistance in ensuring that only citizens are registering and voting in our Montana elections,” Jacobsen stated. “Enhancing the SAVE program will bolster confidence in our elections, as Montanans on every side of the aisle strongly agree that only U.S. citizens should vote in our state’s elections.”

The letter also reaffirms the Secretaries’ commitment to safeguarding the democratic process by preventing foreign influence in elections.

“As President Trump has explicitly conveyed, ensuring noncitizens do not vote in our elections is crucial to protecting the integrity of elections in our respective states,” the Secretaries wrote. “Disallowing interference from noncitizens in the electoral process is a fundamental role we must not only assume but champion.”

A National Effort to Secure Elections

The push for SAVE system reforms comes amid broader national discussions about election security, voter ID laws, and concerns over noncitizen participation in elections. While federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, enforcement is largely left to the states, and gaps in verification processes have led to concerns about potential vulnerabilities.

In recent years, some municipalities have attempted to expand voting rights to noncitizens in local elections, fueling debates about the integrity of voter rolls. Election officials across the country have sought more robust verification tools to prevent errors and ensure confidence in the electoral process.

By advocating for these changes, Jacobsen and her colleagues aim to fortify election security measures and prevent noncitizen participation in Montana and nationwide.