Indianapolis, Indiana – In a move aimed at strengthening the integrity of Indiana’s elections, Secretary of State Diego Morales has signed a new agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that will allow the state to use federal immigration data to verify the citizenship status of registered voters.
The agreement, known as a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), gives Indiana access to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, a federal database managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This program is designed to help identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens and prevent them from being listed on voter rolls.
The announcement was made public Monday and marks a significant development in the state’s broader effort to ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens are able to vote in Indiana elections.
“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 Diego Morales, Indiana Secretary of State.
The SAVE program will be used to cross-check individuals on the state’s voter registration lists whose citizenship cannot be verified through other state databases, such as those maintained by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If a person’s citizenship status remains unconfirmed, the state will send them a notification by mail, allowing them an opportunity to prove their eligibility.
This verification process is part of a new mandate under House Enrolled Act 1264, which was signed into law in 2024. The legislation targets voters who used temporary identification or did not provide proof of citizenship when registering. It outlines a process for ensuring those voters are indeed U.S. citizens.
Supporters of the move say it is not about excluding voters but about building trust in the election process.
“Our Constitution and laws are clear—only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in our elections. 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,” Morales said.
The agreement comes as several states have considered similar measures in recent years amid ongoing national debates over voter eligibility and election security. While there is little evidence of widespread noncitizen voting in the U.S., officials like Morales argue that even isolated incidents can erode public confidence in the electoral system.
Secretary Morales also expressed his appreciation to federal officials for facilitating the agreement.
Morales thanked “President Donald J. Trump and his DHS-USCIS team for their work in finalizing the agreement,” underscoring his administration’s alignment with broader national efforts to tighten election safeguards.
Critics of such programs have raised concerns in other states about the potential for eligible voters being wrongly flagged. However, Indiana officials stress that the new process includes safeguards to prevent wrongful removal, ensuring individuals have a chance to verify their status before any action is taken.
With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, Indiana’s move is likely to draw both attention and scrutiny as states continue to debate how to strike the right balance between voter access and election security.
For now, Indiana officials say they are confident the SAVE program will enhance transparency and fairness while maintaining the integrity of the state’s voter rolls.
