Iowa Lawsuit Against Biden Administration Over Voter Citizenship Data
State officials claim the Biden administration is withholding crucial information ahead of the upcoming election.
Background of the Lawsuit
Iowa’s Attorney General Brenna Bird and Secretary of State Paul Pate have initiated legal action against the Biden administration, alleging that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been uncooperative in providing essential data regarding the citizenship status of over 2,000 registered voters. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, is in direct response to concerns regarding voter integrity ahead of the 2024 election.
The state’s lawsuit contends that the USCIS has failed to release a comprehensive list of noncitizens who may be illegally registered to vote in Iowa. “The inability of federal authorities to provide this information has forced our state to rely on the best — albeit imperfect — data we had available, to ensure that Iowans’ votes are not compromised by those ineligible to participate,” Bird and Pate stated in a joint statement.
Details of the Legal Challenge
In addition to USCIS, the lawsuit also names the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, as defendants. The officials are seeking a court order to compel the release of the data they argue is necessary to maintain election integrity.
The complaint details how state election officials cross-referenced voter rolls with a list of individuals who had identified themselves as noncitizens through the Iowa Department of Transportation. Of the 2,176 names flagged, many have since registered to vote or cast ballots, indicating that some may have subsequently obtained citizenship.
Controversial Provisional Ballots
During the initial stages of early voting in Iowa, Pate advised county election officials to challenge ballots cast by anyone named on the list, recommending that such individuals be allowed to cast provisional ballots instead. This decision drew scrutiny and legal challenges from pro-voting advocacy groups.
In a subsequent court ruling, a judge determined that those on Pate’s list could proceed to cast provisional ballots, calming initial fears about the disenfranchisement of voters. Thus, provisional ballots provided an avenue for individuals to validate their citizenship status after their initial votes had been challenged.
Voting Outcomes and Citizenship Verification
According to preliminary reports from 97 of Iowa’s 99 counties, at least 500 individuals who were identified as potentially ineligible managed to prove their citizenship status, which granted them the right to have their votes counted. However, another 74 ballots were rejected, primarily due to the failure of individuals to return with the necessary proof of citizenship.
Remarkably, further analysis revealed that most individuals listed by the Secretary of State’s office did not vote in the 2024 election, as indicated by data gleaned from county auditors who monitored the voting process.
Broader Implications for Voter Registration and Election Integrity
This ongoing legal dispute not only highlights the tensions between state and federal authorities regarding voter registration protocols but also underscores the heightened focus on electoral integrity leading into the critical 2024 elections. In recent years, various states have implemented stricter voter ID laws and initiated measures aimed at ensuring only eligible voters participate in elections.
The outcome of this legal battle may set a precedent for how states can interact with federal agencies when it comes to safeguarding election integrity and ensuring that all ballots cast reflect the will of valid, registered voters.
