Citizenship to be verified upon Indiana voter registration

INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) — Diego Morales, the Indiana Secretary of State, has signed an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify the citizenship of those registered to vote in Indiana.

The DHS will grant the state access to Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) data, meaning Indiana will be able to verify that only eligible U.S. citizens are registered to vote in Indiana, and anyone looking to register to vote will have their citizenship status confirmed before casting their ballot.

“As someone who knows firsthand what it means to earn U.S. citizenship, I deeply value the rights and responsibilities that come with citizenship — especially the right to vote. This agreement is another step in safeguarding the rights of every eligible Hoosier voter and reflects our commitment to protecting the integrity of our elections,” said Morales.

This agreement allows for SAVE data to be used to cross-reference federal immigration data and voter registration information, claiming that this will provide more accurate polls and prevent someone who lives in the U.S. without a legal status from voting.

If the BMV cannot confirm the citizenship of an individual, then they will be given an opportunity to prove their citizenship by mail. Temporary ID holders who are registered to vote are encouraged to follow the verification process as stated in the House Enrolled Act 1264 (2024).

“Our Constitution and laws are clear — only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in our elections,” Morales continued, “This is not about politics. It’s about protecting the sanctity of the ballot and ensuring Hoosiers can trust that their votes are counted and their elections are secure.”