Expanding Voter Verification System raises Privacy and Accuracy Concerns in Texas
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Equities (SAVE) system, designed to verify immigration status, is undergoing a notable expansion with potentially troubling implications for voter privacy and the accuracy of voter rolls. Recent revelations suggest this expansion occurred with limited public scrutiny and raises questions about data security and potential disenfranchisement.
What is SAVE and Why the Expansion?
SAVE traditionally assists federal, state, and local agencies in verifying whether individuals are authorized to receive public benefits. DHS officials envision SAVE evolving into a “one-stop shop” for election agency verification needs. This ambition involves querying state driver’s license (DL) databases to provide citizenship details to election officials.
However, this expansion differs from typical federal system changes. Usually, agencies solicit public comment before implementing such changes. In this case,that crucial step was bypassed.
The Texas Pilot Program & data Sharing Questions
In June, DHS approached the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) about a pilot program to integrate its driver’s license data into SAVE. The goal? To allow election agencies to quickly verify voter eligibility.
Emails show a willingness from a DPS supervisor to discuss collaboration. Yet, when questioned by ProPublica and the Tribune, DPS stated they currently have no ongoing projects with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services (USCIS) regarding voter data, and haven’t been asked to provide it. DHS also declined to comment on whether the partnership progressed.
This discrepancy raises concerns about transparency and the extent of data sharing already underway.
Texas runs Voter Roll Through SAVE – Initial Findings
Despite the ambiguity surrounding the pilot program, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced in October that the state had run its entire voter roll through SAVE. The check utilized full Social Security numbers obtained from DPS, routinely used for voter registration matching.
The results flagged approximately 2,724 voters – roughly 0.015% of the state’s electorate - as potentially noncitizens.
Accuracy Concerns & Potential Disenfranchisement
These initial findings are already facing scrutiny.Christopher Davis, Travis County‘s voter registration director, filed a court document as part of ongoing litigation regarding SAVE’s implementation. He reports that around 25% of the voters flagged by SAVE in Travis County had, in fact, already provided proof of citizenship during registration.
This suggests a significant error rate. Davis expressed concern that the flawed data could led to eligible voters being wrongly removed from the rolls, effectively disenfranchising them.
Here’s a breakdown of the key concerns:
* Lack of Transparency: The expansion of SAVE occurred without the usual public comment period.
* Data privacy: Sharing sensitive driver’s license data with federal agencies raises privacy concerns.
* Accuracy Issues: Initial results indicate a considerable number of false positives, potentially leading to wrongful voter purges.
* Disenfranchisement Risk: Incorrectly flagging eligible voters could suppress voter turnout.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’re a Texas voter, it’s crucial to ensure your registration information is accurate and up-to-date. You can verify your registration status on the Texas Secretary of State’s website.
this situation highlights the need for careful oversight of government databases and a commitment to protecting voting rights. As SAVE expands nationally, it’s vital to address these concerns to ensure fair and accurate elections for all citizens.
Resources:
* League of Women Voters v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Court Filing
* Texas Secretary of State Voter Registration Verification
Tags: citizenship, DHS, driver’s license, immigration, privacy, SAVE system, states, surveillance, Texas.
