Three Republican-led states — Ohio, Florida, and Texas — have filed lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding access to federal records that could help verify voter eligibility by identifying non-citizens on voter rolls. This lawsuit reflects growing frustration among these states regarding what they view as the Biden administration’s obstruction on election integrity matters.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, alongside Florida and Texas officials, argues that DHS has repeatedly refused to grant access to federal databases that would allow the states to cross-check voter registration records. According to LaRose, his office has attempted at least four times to gain permission to use the Person Centric Query Service (PCQS), a DHS resource designed to identify citizenship status. In his view, DHS’s refusal to cooperate essentially hampers these states’ ability to enforce the rule that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections.
Under the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, states can request verification of citizenship, but this tool requires specific immigration identifiers that the states often don’t have. The PCQS, which taps into a broader range of identifiers, would be more efficient for confirming citizenship status. LaRose is framing this refusal as a deliberate roadblock by the administration, even suggesting that the stonewalling is part of a broader strategy to prevent states from cleaning up their voter rolls.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration appears to be doubling down by suing states like Alabama and Virginia for their efforts to purge voter rolls of non-citizens. This adds an interesting twist, given that DOJ has taken an active role in challenging state attempts to enhance voter registration verification. The issue has gained enough attention that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan recently demanded DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas explain why DHS has denied access to these critical databases. Sixteen state attorneys general have also formally requested DHS provide citizenship verification resources.
Ohio has already been proactive in identifying ineligible voters, recently referring nearly 140 cases of non-citizens on voter rolls for further investigation, with six individuals now facing indictments. This move illustrates that these states aren’t waiting for federal cooperation to enforce election integrity, but it also highlights the tension between state and federal authorities on this issue.
In the end, the outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for how states enforce voter eligibility in future elections. With each side accusing the other of jeopardizing election security, the legal battles between the states and the Biden administration might just be heating up.
