Supreme Court Revives Controversial Voter Data System
The Supreme Court has lifted restrictions on the Trump administration's use of a federal voter database aimed at identifying non-citizen voters.
The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the revival of a federal voter database used to identify non-citizens on voter rolls, overturning a lower court ruling that had restricted its use. The decision permits the Department of Homeland Security to utilize the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program for bulk searches, a capability expanded under the Trump administration.
The SAVE program, originally established in 1986 to verify citizenship or immigration status for public benefits, was enhanced last year to include social security numbers for bulk searches. Critics argue that this system could lead to the wrongful removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls.
In June, U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Soonnan, appointed by the Biden administration, had ruled the revamped system illegal, stating it "knowingly trampled on the privacy rights" of U.S. citizens and threatened the right to vote. A federal appeals court upheld her ruling before the Supreme Court's intervention.
The Supreme Court's decision was supported by six conservative justices, while the three liberal-leaning justices dissented. This ruling represents a significant development for the administration's efforts to address allegations of non-citizen voting.