Texas Election Review Flags 2,724 Potential Noncitizens

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Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson (R) announced that 2,724 potential noncitizens were found on the state’s voter rolls following a federal database review. The identification was made possible through Executive Order 14248, signed by President Donald Trump in March 2025, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to provide state election officials free access to federal citizenship data through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database.

Nelson described the program as a significant step forward in ensuring that Texas maintains accurate voter rolls. “Only eligible United States citizens may participate in our elections,” she said, noting that collaboration with federal agencies enhances both transparency and accountability.

Federal Access Strengthens Election Verification

Executive Order 14248, titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” requires the Department of Homeland Security to assist states in verifying citizenship and naturalization information. Before this order, Texas officials could not directly cross-check voter registrations against federal citizenship records.

The new arrangement allows Texas to identify potential noncitizens with greater accuracy. Nelson said that the partnership has already proven valuable in improving data reliability and maintaining public confidence in elections. She added that the review’s goal is to verify, not assume, voter ineligibility.

County-Level Data and Findings

The Secretary of State’s office provided a detailed county-by-county breakdown of potential noncitizen voter registrations. Larger counties accounted for the highest totals, reflecting the concentration of registered voters across Texas.

County Responsibilities and Voter Verification Process

Under Chapter 16 of the Texas Election Code, county election officials are responsible for reviewing records flagged as potentially ineligible. Each county must notify affected voters and provide thirty days for them to submit proof of U.S. citizenship.

If no proof is provided, the voter’s registration is canceled, but individuals can reapply later by showing valid citizenship documentation. Nelson said this ensures due process while maintaining the integrity of the system. “Everyone’s right to vote is sacred and must be protected,” she stated, emphasizing that the process is designed to be corrective rather than punitive.

Building on Earlier Efforts to Secure Voter Rolls

This latest review builds upon earlier efforts to safeguard Texas elections. In 2019, a prior attempt to identify noncitizens relied on state driver’s license data and resulted in thousands of lawful naturalized citizens being incorrectly flagged. That review prompted litigation and policy changes.

The current process differs substantially. By using verified federal data through the SAVE system, Texas can now confirm citizenship status with far greater precision. Nelson’s office said that this transition marks a shift toward a more data-driven and transparent model for election integrity.

Broader Context: Texas’s Ongoing Election Integrity Efforts

These recent findings are part of a broader, years-long effort to improve voter list accuracy. Since the passage of Senate Bill 1 in 2021, Texas has removed more than one million ineligible registrations, including deceased individuals, noncitizens, and voters who relocated to other states. Governor Greg Abbott (R) said these reforms “protect the right to vote and crack down on illegal voting.”

The 2021 legislation, authored by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), strengthened ID verification for mail-in ballots, prohibited unsolicited mail ballot applications, and clarified procedures for maintaining voter rolls. Additional measures, such as House Bill 1243 and Senate Bill 1113, increased penalties for illegal voting and empowered the Secretary of State to withhold funds from counties that fail to comply with voter roll maintenance.

This policy framework provides the foundation for the work Nelson’s office continues today, connecting the large-scale removals of recent years with the ongoing refinement made possible by federal data access.

Balancing Accuracy and Access

The discovery of potential noncitizens does not automatically indicate intentional voter fraud, but it underscores the importance of consistent verification. State officials stress that the process is about protecting both election integrity and voter confidence.

Critics of past voter roll purges have expressed concern about erroneous removals, but Nelson’s office emphasized that every flagged record undergoes individual review. Counties must confirm ineligibility before taking action, ensuring that lawful voters remain on the rolls. This approach reflects Texas’s continued commitment to both transparency and accountability.

Conclusion: Maintaining Trust in the Democratic Process

The identification of 2,724 potential noncitizens represents an important milestone in Texas’s evolving approach to election administration. Executive Order 14248 has given the state new tools to ensure accurate voter rolls, and the data-sharing framework it established strengthens cooperation between state and federal authorities.

As counties conduct their verifications, the broader effort continues a years-long commitment to clean voter rolls and foster public trust in the electoral process. The success of these initiatives depends not only on removing ineligible voters but on ensuring that every eligible Texan retains the ability to participate in free and fair elections.

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