On the first day of early voting for the November election, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced that her office had identified 2,724 registered voters who may not be U.S. citizens.
The findings came after Nelson’s office gained access to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (USCIS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, a federal tool that allows state officials to verify the citizenship status of individuals. This access was granted following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in March, which directed federal agencies to provide states with free access to information verifying voter eligibility.
Using the SAVE database, Nelson’s office cross-referenced it with the state’s voter rolls and compiled a county-by-county breakdown. Harris County, Texas’ largest county, had the highest number of potential noncitizens at 362. Dallas County followed with 277, Bexar County with 201, El Paso with 165, Hidalgo with 149, Tarrant with 145, and Collin County with 109.
“Only eligible United States citizens may participate in our elections,” Nelson said in a press release. “The Trump Administration’s decision to give states free and direct access to this data set for the first time has been a game changer, and we appreciate the partnership with the federal government to verify the citizenship of those on our voter rolls and maintain accurate voter lists.”
The SOS has shared the results with counties, which are now expected to conduct local investigations under Chapter 16 of the Texas Election Code. Individuals identified as potential noncitizens will be notified and given 30 days to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. If a voter’s registration is canceled, they can re-register by presenting documentation proving citizenship at their polling place.
Nelson also noted that the initiative began after focusing on voters in the November 2024 general election. An earlier review had identified 33 individuals who were referred to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for further investigation.
“Everyone’s right to vote is sacred and must be protected,” Nelson said. “We encourage counties to conduct rigorous investigations to determine if any voter is ineligible—just as they do with any other data set we provide. The SAVE database has proven to be a critically important tool, and we will continue using it to ensure that only qualified voters cast a ballot in Texas elections.”
