State elections board moves to remove non-U.S. citizens from voter rolls
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The State Board of Elections will begin checking the citizenship status of all registered voters in North Carolina using federal databases in an effort to identify and remove any non-U.S. citizens from voter rolls.
The decision follows a vote by the board during its meeting Thursday, where members approved new rules outlining the process required before a voter can be removed.
Under the plan, voters’ names, dates of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers will be run through the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, database.
The system is operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and provides information on possible noncitizens. The state board recently entered into a memorandum of agreement with the agency to carry out the checks.
“This is another way that we will continue to improve the accuracy of our voter rolls and make sure only eligible voters can cast ballots in this state,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “As noncitizens are removed from the voter list, necessary precautions will be taken to ensure that no eligible voters are affected.”
If the SAVE database flags a voter as a potential noncitizen, elections officials will take additional steps before any removal. Those steps include confirming whether other federal records indicate the person is a U.S. citizen, reviewing state and voter registration records for proof of citizenship, and notifying the voter.
If no proof of citizenship is found, the voter will be given the opportunity to correct or update their information. The new rules require that voters receive notice and a chance to be heard, including the ability to provide documentation, before they can be removed.
State officials say the effort is aimed at maintaining accurate voter rolls and ensuring compliance with North Carolina law, which allows only U.S. citizens to vote. Registering or voting as a noncitizen is a felony under state and federal law.
Officials noted there is no evidence that noncitizen voting is widespread, but there have been documented cases. An audit following the 2016 general election found 41 noncitizens with legal status voted out of nearly 4.8 million ballots cast. The report indicated some individuals were misinformed about eligibility requirements.
In a more recent case, a Canadian citizen pleaded guilty in federal court to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on voter registration applications in 2022 and 2024.
State officials also said some noncitizens may appear on voter rolls unintentionally or due to confusion about eligibility.
The rules must still be reviewed and approved by the Rules Review Commission before taking effect.
