The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Jan. 6, 2026

Comparing its registered voter list to the federal SAVE database, the State of Texas announced in October it found over 2,700 purported noncitizens on its voter rolls.  An oversight by state officials may have accidentally inflated that number.

Last Oct. 20th, the Texas Secretary of State’s office announced it had compared the state’s list of 18 million registered voters against the recently-overhauled federal SAVE database, trumpeting that it had found 2,724 potential noncitizens on its rolls.

Reporting by Votebeat Texas and the Texas Tribune, though, suggests hundreds flagged for investigation may already have provided citizenship documents to the state DMV.  Texas has automatic voter registration available during transactions at its Department of Public Safety, and “motor-voter” registrants must show citizenship documents at that time. Apparently, the DPS citizenship records were never checked before the list was sent to county election officials for investigation.  

County officials are now requesting documents be provided locally by the individual, but must remove nonrespondents within 30 days.  Studies show that  language barriers and clerical errors can also lead to mistaken motor-voter registrations.  We’ll have more on that in an upcoming report.

Actual voting by noncitizens remains almost nonexistent. In June, the State of Texas referred only 33 cases for criminal investigation from the 2024 election’s 11.3 million votes cast.  We’ve linked the local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Brennan Center for Justice – Homeland Security’s “SAVE” Program Exacerbates Risks to Voters
American Democracy Minute – Class Action Suit by Voters Claims Personal Data Shared to the Trump Administration’s SAVE Database Violates the Privacy Act of 1974
Texas Secretary of State’s Office – Texas Completes Citizenship Verifications in the SAVE Database
Texas Tribune – Texas counties are looking into “potential noncitizens” on voter rolls. Here’s what they’re finding.
Votebeat Texas – (2025) Hundreds of Texas voters flagged as potential noncitizens may have already proven their citizenship
Texas Tribune – (2025)Texas secretary of state refers 33 potential noncitizen voters for criminal investigation
NPR – (2019)  Some Noncitizens Do Wind Up Registered To Vote, But Usually Not On Purpose

Groups Taking Action:

League of Women Voters TX

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Texas #NoncitizenVoting #SAVEDatabase #ICE

The post While Texas Trumpets Finding Noncitizens on Its Voter Registration Rolls, the Reality is Less Clear, and Some May Even Be the State’s Fault appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 23, 2025

The Trump Department of Justice has tried for months to compel states to turn over voter registration data. A new university research center analysis suggests existing federal law doesn’t explicitly permit it.

A University of Wisconsin State Democracy Research Initiative paper outlines federal laws the DOJ is using to justify the action in the face of challenges from states, pro-voter groups and voters. None of the laws in question, the Privacy Act of 1974, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Act, explicitly authorize state voter registration data to be turned over for the purpose of identifying noncitizens and noncitizen voters.

Author Derek Clinger writes that DOJ points to the Civil Rights Act’s provisions that state records be available for examination, but notes the purpose of that law was to prevent voter suppression. The NVRA requires state voter data be available for public inspection, but doesn’t detail how it can be used or whether sensitive data like driver’s license or Social Security numbers can be shared. HAVA does not have a disclosure requirement, and the Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits personal data from being shared between agencies without legal justification.

Clinger writes that most states have robust privacy protections for voter and personal data. He expects the multiple challenges to extend beyond the 2026 midterms.

We’ve linked the full explainer at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (October) Class Action Suit by Voters Claims Personal Data Shared to the Trump Administration’s SAVE Database Violates the Privacy Act of 1974
American Democracy Minute – U.S. DOJ Sues MA, CO, HI and NV to Turn Over Voter Registration Files, but Even Red States are Pushing Back
University of Wisconsin Law School – State Democracy Research Initiative – Explainer: Can the Federal Government Force States to Hand Over Citizens’ Voter Information?
Brennan Center for Justice – Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information

Groups Taking Action:

League of Women Voters,C.R.E.W., Electronic Privacy Information Center,  Fair Elections Center

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DataPrivacy #SAVEDatabase #VoterRegistrationData 

The post Can the Feds Require States to Turn Over Voter Data?  A New Paper Suggests Federal Law Doesn’t Explicitly Allow It, So Courts Will Decide. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 19, 2025

Earlier this summer the Trump Justice Department requested states turn over massive amounts of voter registration, balloting, and election administration records.  Two states which refused the request, Maine and Oregon, are now being sued by DOJ.

The Brennan Center for Justice counts 34 states which received data requests from either the Trump DOJ Civil Rights Division, formerly a watchdog for voting rights, or from DOJ’s criminal division.  New Hampshire cited state statutes prohibiting the release of such information, but Indiana confirmed it recently sent DOJ personal information including driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers. 

Maine received its first request in mid July, which it declined August 8th, citing a lack of justification.  Maine received a second DOJ request September 8th, according to the Maine Morning Star.   

DOJ’s statement announcing the suits said, QUOTE, “American citizens have a right to feel confident in the integrity of our electoral process, and the refusal of certain states to protect their citizens against vote dilution will result in legal consequences.” UNQUOTE    ‘Vote dilution’ refers to alleged widespread voting by noncitizens, an already debunked conspiracy theory from the 2020 and 2024 elections.  The Trump administration confirmed last week it was sharing the voter data with the Department of Homeland Security. 

Secretaries of State Shana Bellows in Maine and Tobias Reed of Oregon have vowed to fight the request in court.   

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (June) U.S. DOJ Demands State of Colorado Turn Over Massive Number of 2024 Election Records. It Could be an Attempt to Prove Conspiracy Theories.
American Democracy Minute – (July) The U.S. Department of Justice is Requesting All Voter Records for 12 States, Likely a Violation of Privacy and Free Speech Rights
Maine Morning Star – (July) Trump administration requested voter data. Secretary Bellows says, ‘Go jump in the Gulf of Maine’
Maine Morning Star – Secretary Bellows rejects Trump administration’s second request for more Maine voter data
U.S. Department of Justice – Justice Department Sues Oregon and Maine for Failure to Provide Voter Registration Rolls
Oregon Capital Chronicle – Trump Justice Department sues Oregon, Maine for not turning over voter data
Brennan Center for Justice – Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #TrumpJusticeDept #NoncitizenVoting #ConspiracyTheories #BigLie #Maine #Oregon #DOJ

The post Justice Department Sues Maine & Oregon for Withholding State Voter Registration and Voting Data from Trump Administration appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 10, 2025

National Voter Registration Day is coming up on September 16th, with nationwide events to encourage eligible voters to register and check their registration. With no national election as incentive this year, organizers point to local and special elections, and readiness to vote in the 2026 midterms, as reasons to consider registering or reviewing registration status.

The U.S. Census estimates 174 million Americans were registered to vote in 2024, out of an eligible voting age population of 236 million citizens. Pew Research found 18% of nonvoters cited not being registered as a major reason for not voting.

For those who ARE registered, changes in election law, such as more frequent purges of inactive voter registrations, and lack of citizenship documents on file could potentially make millions of Americans ineligible prior to the 2026 midterms. Many states offer online tools to check registration status.

National Voter Registration Day’s organizers said in a statement that over 1700 community partners and 3500 local organizations will participate this year, including municipalities, libraries, businesses, colleges, churches, schools, and support agencies. Organizers point to mayoral, state supreme court and school board races as reasons to consider voter registration and updates.

More information for Interested community partners and organizations is available at NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org. We have links to the site and our past series on why more Americans don’t vote at AmericanDemocracyminute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

U.S. Census Bureau – 2024 Presidential Election Voting and Registration Tables

National Voter Registration Day – Organizing for National Voter Registration Day 2025 Begins
National Voter Registration Day – From New York to Texas: Thousands of Local Organizations Rally for Voter Registration Ahead of Critical Year for Local Elections
Pew Research – Voters’ and nonvoters’ experiences with the 2024 election
American Democracy Minute – Why People Don’t Vote Week: You Can’t Vote if You Don’t Register — So Why Don’t Nonvoters Register?

Groups Taking Action:

Nonprofit Vote, National Association of Secretaries of State, National Association of Election Officials, Rock the Vote

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NationalVoterRegistrationDay #VoteReady 

The post National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 16th and Millions of Americans Aren’t Registered or May Not Know Their Voter Registration Status appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 15, 2025

In November 2024, a GOP North Carolina Supreme Court candidate challenged the eligibility of thousands of voters with missing ID information. The state is now trying to fix the problem.

The North Carolina Board of Elections realized in 2023 that unclear instructions on a voter registration form allowed as many as 200,000 voters to register without providing a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The plan at the time was to collect missing information during future elections.

After a close 2024 state supreme court election, losing GOP candidate Judge Jefferson Griffin and the Republican Party challenged the validity of 65,000 voters, ultimately losing in federal court. June 24th, the Board of Elections announced plans to collect the missing information for 103,000 voters, who will receive forms to return by mail, may provide that information in person at an election office, or can submit it electronically at ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair.

While those voters won’t be purged, they must use provisional ballots until that information is received. Provisional ballots don’t count unless the voter returns with the necessary documents. Another 100,000 voters whose information is not on file but had previously been proven, will be solicited for information in the future.

We have more on how to submit the missing information at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – Federal Court Settles North Carolina Supreme Court Race, Heading Off a Dangerous Precedent of Retroactively Questioning Election Rules
Spectrum News 1/AP – Prodded by lawsuits, N.C. seeks to tighten voter ID records for 200,000 people
NC NewsLine – North Carolina election officials: No voters will be removed over missing information
WUNC – NC elections officials urge targeted voters to provide driver’s license, social security numbers   
NC State Board of Elections – Registration Repair  

Groups Taking Action:

League of Women Voters, Protect Democracy, VoteVets , Democracy North Carolina

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NorthCarolina #Disenfranchised #MissingID #NCBoardofElections

The post Over 100,000 Registered North Carolina Voters Must Now Provide ID Information or Vote by Provisional Ballot appeared first on American Democracy Minute.