DHS Review Flags 256,463 Possible Noncitizen Voter Registrations Across Four States
A Department of Homeland Security review has placed voter registration systems in California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania under scrutiny. DHS reports that its comparison of public voter files with federal immigration records identified thousands of registrations that may belong to noncitizens.
The reported figure is 256,463 possible noncitizen registrations across four states. However, a database match does not confirm a violation. DHS described its review as preliminary, requested state officials to verify the individuals’ identities, and did not assert that all flagged individuals remain noncitizens or that they voted.
DHS Noncitizen Voter-Roll Estimates by State
The department disclosed two sets of figures. Its broader estimate indicates that up to 256,463 noncitizens could be registered across the four states.
A narrower group of 118,003 voter records matched federal noncitizen records based on names, birth dates, addresses, and Social Security numbers.
California accounts for approximately 74% of the broader estimate. New Jersey follows with over 35,000 possible registrations, while Nevada and Pennsylvania each account for about 15,000.
Why the 256,463 Figure Is Not a Confirmed Voter-Fraud Count
The key term in the DHS finding is potential.
Matching personal information across government databases can identify records for further review, but it does not automatically establish current citizenship status.
An individual may have received a Social Security number while holding a green card or employment authorization and later become a naturalized citizen. Older immigration records may not reflect this change immediately.
The federal SAVE system has faced questions about false positives. Texas officials previously flagged 2,724 potential noncitizens, but county reviews determined that some were citizens. Hundreds had registered through a state agency requiring proof of citizenship.
A federal judge later blocked the administration’s expanded use of SAVE for voter-roll checks, citing privacy concerns and evidence that eligible citizens had been incorrectly identified.
Therefore, 256,463 database matches cannot be treated as 256,463 confirmed illegal registrations. Each record must be reviewed individually, and affected voters should have the opportunity to provide updated citizenship documents before any change in registration status.
California, Nevada, and Pennsylvania Challenge the Allegation
California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected the administration’s accusation, emphasizing that California requires U.S. citizenship for participation in state and federal elections. The state’s official eligibility rules confirm that registrants must be United States citizens and state residents.
Some cities permit certain noncitizens to participate in limited local school board elections, but these programs do not grant access to federal or statewide ballots.
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar stated that his office did not understand how DHS calculated its figures and had not received sufficient information to evaluate them. Aguilar has also opposed previous federal requests for sensitive voter data, citing Nevada law as limiting what the state may disclose.
Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said the state follows election laws and requires voters to verify their identities.
He invited DHS to provide its methodology and a list of suspected ineligible registrants for state officials to review. Schmidt also emphasized that existing evidence shows noncitizen voting is extremely rare in Pennsylvania and nationwide.
New Jersey officials did not provide an immediate, detailed response when the DHS letters became public. However, the state’s registration rules require registrants to be U.S. citizens and meet age and residency requirements.
Federal and State Laws Already Prohibit Noncitizen Voting
Noncitizens are prohibited from voting in elections held partly or entirely to select federal officials under 18 U.S.C. § 611. Violations can carry criminal and immigration consequences.
California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania also require U.S. citizenship for ordinary voter registration. Pennsylvania’s application warns noncitizens that they are ineligible, while Nevada’s registration requirements begin by asking applicants to confirm that they are United States citizens.
The dispute is not about the legality of noncitizen voting, but whether current systems accurately identify ineligible registrants without mistakenly removing eligible citizens.
DHS Requests Cooperation Before the 2026 Midterm Elections
DHS asked election officials in the four states to respond by July 24 so that federal and state agencies can begin verifying the records. The department maintains that states manage voter rolls, while federal agencies hold immigration and naturalization information needed to assess citizenship.
This request comes months before the November 2026 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. It follows Justice Department letters warning election administrators that knowingly retaining noncitizens on voter lists or facilitating illegal voting could result in criminal liability.
President Donald Trump has cited these allegations to support the SAVE America Act, which would impose additional proof-of-citizenship and identification requirements for federal elections. Supporters describe these requirements as necessary safeguards.
Opponents warn that citizens lacking readily available passports, birth certificates, or matching name records could face new barriers to registration.
What Must Happen Next
The DHS review raises a legitimate question that requires a transparent answer, but its preliminary numbers do not substitute for completed investigations.
States should review credible evidence of ineligible registration, update outdated records, and refer confirmed violations for enforcement.
Federal agencies should disclose their matching methods, explain how naturalized citizens were excluded, and provide sufficient documentation to support each challenge.
Election officials must avoid mass cancellations based solely on automated matches. A flawed purge could remove lawful voters, lead to costly litigation, and undermine the public confidence that voter-roll reviews are meant to protect.
Decisive evidence will come from verified, individual findings: how many flagged registrants are currently noncitizens, how many records are outdated, how many belong to naturalized Americans, and whether any of these individuals actually voted.
Until those answers are available, the figure of 256,463 remains a serious allegation, not a confirmed count of illegal voters.
