With election season heating up, election integrity is once again taking center stage, and it’s not hard to see why. Voter confidence rests on a transparent process, yet some states seem to treat basic election laws like they’re optional. And we all saw the mess that came out of that mindset in 2020, with plenty of Americans left scratching their heads over the results.
The accusations are clear: state election officials dropping the ball on managing voter rolls and, in some cases, practically inviting non-citizens to vote. States like Ohio, Florida, and Texas are done with it—they’re taking the Biden administration to court over access to databases that verify voter citizenship. Yet here we are, with the administration blocking their efforts. So, is there something to hide?
Here’s where things get spicy. Joe Rogan-style truth bombs are being lobbed by state officials, like Ohio’s Secretary of State Frank LaRose. LaRose asked DHS multiple times to access the federal PCQS database to check voter citizenship. And every time, DHS slammed the door in his face. In his words: “If the Biden administration wants to fight over election integrity, they’ve got one.”
Not to be left out, Texas and Florida are right in the thick of it too. The states argue they have every legal right to verify voter rolls, but the Biden-Harris administration is stonewalling—hard. DHS has its SAVE database, which offers some info, but it’s a weak alternative to the PCQS tool these states actually need to enforce federal law. And let’s be clear: federal law says only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections. So why is DHS making states jump through hoops to access it?
It’s not just these three states, either. Sixteen other Republican attorneys general have joined the charge, pressing DHS to hand over the records. They’re pointing out that federal law requires DHS to coordinate with states on voter verification. But here we are, with the administration dragging its feet. Pure bureaucratic red tape, or is there something more?
Blocking the Truth or Blocking Voter Fraud?
Anyone with an ounce of concern over election integrity is scratching their head at DHS’s stance. Federal law says non-citizens can’t vote in federal elections—end of story. And yet, without proper verification tools, states are left in the dark. Take Texas, for example. Since 2021, they’ve removed over 1 million ineligible voters from their rolls, including thousands of non-citizens who previously voted. Texas Governor Greg Abbott isn’t having it; he wants to ensure only legal citizens vote, and he’s calling out the administration’s unwillingness to help.
So, what’s the endgame here? The administration claims it’s protecting voter rights, but is it really about blocking fraud, or just blocking states from finding out the scale of it?
The fight is far from over. Ohio, Florida, and Texas are set to duke it out in court, while DHS stays mum on pending litigation. But they did slip out one statement claiming the SAVE system is the “most secure way” to verify citizenship. However, state officials say that’s a half-baked solution, and they’re not stopping until they get the tools they need.
With 2024 around the corner, this legal battle is ramping up to be one of the big flashpoints of the cycle. If the federal government won’t cooperate, don’t be surprised if voter confidence hits a new low. This fight could shift the way Americans view election integrity and, frankly, democracy itself.