(DailyAnswer.org) – Florida has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, claiming federal officials are blocking its efforts to confirm the immigration status of individuals on voter rolls. The state says it needs this information to ensure only U.S. citizens can vote and to prevent noncitizens from being registered.
In the lawsuit, Florida states that it asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help check whether certain people on its voter list are U.S. citizens. However, the state claims DHS refused to cooperate, making it harder to keep its voter records accurate.
Florida says it has the legal right to use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, designed to help states confirm the immigration status of people on their voter rolls. But Florida argues it couldn’t complete some checks because it didn’t have the required identification numbers, which DHS controls. When Florida asked DHS for other ways to confirm the status of these individuals, the request was denied.
State officials stress their duty to keep voter records updated, especially given the increase in noncitizens entering the U.S. amid issues at the southern border. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Voting is a right given to American citizens — not noncitizens. The Biden administration has let millions of illegal immigrants into the country, and we must ensure only citizens are on our voter rolls.”
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd added, “The Florida Constitution is clear — only citizens can vote. We are calling on the federal government to remove the barriers preventing us from getting the information we need to enforce this.”
In response, DHS confirmed that federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting, with violations carrying penalties of up to five years in prison. A DHS spokesperson emphasized their continued communication with Florida through official channels and reiterated that the SAVE program is the most reliable way to check immigration status.
Ohio has also filed a lawsuit seeking access to DHS databases to verify voter records.
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