Supreme Court Removes Block On Federal Voter Eligibility Database

The U.S. Supreme Court has removed a block on a controversial national voter database.

But existing law prevents most states from systematically purging voters from their rolls within 90 days of an election. So, the impact on the upcoming midterms is likely limited.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court lets the Trump administration use a revamped federal voter eligibility database for now. https://t.co/ij5lXVB0Y2

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 25, 2026

From AP News:

The emergency order allows states, for now, to use the Department of Homeland Security program, called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, in their efforts to verify the eligibility of voters on their rolls.

States’ use of the SAVE program is voluntary.

The court’s order puts on hold a federal judge’s June ruling that had deemed the Republican administration’s recently revamped version of SAVE illegal.

U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan had blocked the use of the tool, saying it violated Americans’ privacy rights and could result in voters being wrongly removed from the rolls.

Extensive research shows that noncitizen voting, which is already illegal and punishable as a potential felony, is exceptionally rare. But the Donald has remained fixated on the idea that massive numbers of noncitizens are voting in U.S. races. #false

The AP notes an example in Travis County, Texas, where some registrants were wrongly flagged. Officials investigated 97 voters flagged by SAVE as apparent noncitizens and found that at least 10% of them — and likely up to 21% — were U.S. citizens.

The court’s three liberal-leaning justices publicly dissented from the decision.

Breaking news: The Trump administration can use a wide-ranging government database that includes Social Security information to help state officials identify noncitizens on their voter lists, the Supreme Court rules. https://t.co/Q9XAoBBc6m

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 25, 2026