Fact Check: DHS claims 99.99% of voter records verified as U.S. citizens.

Fact Check: DHS claims 99.99% of voter records verified as U.S. citizens

What We Know

The claim that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has verified 99.99% of voter records as U.S. citizens appears to stem from the recent implementation of a national citizenship data system. This system, developed under the Trump administration, is designed to assist state and local election officials in verifying the citizenship status of voters more efficiently. According to NPR, this tool integrates data from the Social Security Administration and immigration databases, allowing officials to check the citizenship status of their entire voter lists.

However, the reliability of the data and the verification process remains a concern. Experts have raised alarms about the accuracy of the data and the potential for disenfranchisement, especially given the history of failed data matching efforts that have often been driven by false narratives of widespread voter fraud (NPR). The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stated that the updates to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program are intended to enhance the verification process (USCIS).

Analysis

While the claim of 99.99% verification sounds impressive, it lacks transparency and independent verification. The DHS and USCIS have not provided detailed public data or methodologies to substantiate this figure. The development of the citizenship verification tool has been criticized for its rapid rollout without adequate public scrutiny or debate, as noted by privacy advocates (NPR).

Furthermore, the context surrounding the claim is crucial. The push for stricter voter verification measures has often been linked to political narratives suggesting widespread non-citizen voting, which research has shown to be exceedingly rare (NPR). The credibility of the sources reporting this claim, particularly those aligned with the Trump administration, may also be questioned due to potential biases in framing the narrative around voter fraud (NPR).

Experts like Kim Wyman, a former Republican secretary of state, have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of creating an accurate national citizenship database in a short timeframe. She emphasized the importance of accuracy in such a significant undertaking, suggesting that the claim should be approached with caution (NPR).

Conclusion

Needs Research. The claim that DHS has verified 99.99% of voter records as U.S. citizens lacks sufficient transparency and independent verification. While the new citizenship verification tool may enhance the process, concerns about data accuracy, potential disenfranchisement, and the political motivations behind the claim warrant further investigation. More comprehensive data and a public discussion about the implications of such a system are necessary to validate the claim.