Alaska has sent more than 3,000 letters to voters asking them to verify their citizenship status ahead of the August 18 primary election, a number state election officials have called unusually high.
Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher stated during a legislative hearing that the significant number of letters appears to stem from outdated data being incorporated during voter roll maintenance. This process, which typically compares the state's voter list with information from the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), usually results in about 200 names requiring further review. However, this year, the division sent out 3,048 letters.
These letters come at a time of heightened scrutiny regarding noncitizen voting. While research and prosecutions indicate noncitizen voting is extremely rare, concerns have been amplified by national political discourse. This has led to pushes for federal voting changes requiring citizenship documentation for voter registration.
The letters sent by the Alaska Division of Elections ask recipients to affirm their citizenship via mail, phone, or email, without requiring specific documentation. Those who receive a letter are moved to an inactive voter list. If no response is received, individuals can still cast a special ballot that requires them to attest to their eligibility to vote. Beecher emphasized that this process is not intended to disenfranchise voters but rather to ensure only citizens are voting.
Some state lawmakers have raised concerns, with constituents reporting that they are U.S. citizens yet received the verification letters. State Rep. Andrew Gray noted that constituents contacting his office about the letters were all U.S. citizens. Another representative, Ashley Carrick, questioned if this action was connected to Alaska's decision to share detailed voter data with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Beecher stated that the letters are unrelated to any data sharing with the Department of Justice and that the information used originated from the DMV. The Division of Elections has not received information from the Department of Justice identifying noncitizens on any lists provided.
Alaska was among at least 16 states that have shared or agreed to share detailed voter information with the Trump administration. This data sharing has faced criticism for potentially flagging eligible voters. Voting and civil rights groups in Alaska filed a lawsuit earlier this year over the state's data-sharing practices, which remains pending.
In March, the Division of Elections requested citizenship information from the DMV for approximately 15,200 license and identification applicants, a request described as nonroutine. The DMV responded in June stating that the data provided included only records where an individual's latest confirmed status was other than 'Citizen.'
Officials suggested that the discrepancy might arise if individuals became citizens after obtaining a driver's license but before their citizenship status was updated in DMV records. The Division of Elections sent its entire voter list to the DMV for comparison against the agency's records. Beecher noted that governmental agencies do not always communicate effectively, leading to potential data mismatches. Voters are advised to update their information with the DMV to ensure accurate records for future citizenship checks.