Montana Partners With DHS To Verify Voter Citizenship Using SAVE

Montana moved to expand its voter roll verification tools when Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen announced a formal access agreement with the Department of Homeland Security on November 21, 2025. The agreement allows state election officials to query U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services records through the SAVE program to confirm citizenship status for individuals on the voter registration list. Officials framed the step as a means to bolster election integrity and maintain accurate rolls.

Jacobsen and her office described the initiative as the next phase of routine roll maintenance, noting actions already taken to remove deceased registrants and to reduce the number of undeliverable ballots. State officials say federal access to USCIS data will provide an additional data point to confirm whether registered voters meet citizenship requirements. The announcement also included statements about public support for accurate rolls and the Secretary's goal of using the program to provide clearer verification for registrars.

For Lewis and Clark County the new access creates immediate administrative tasks and potential consequences for individual registrants. County election administrators will receive results from matches and discrepancies and may need to reconcile records, notify affected voters, and update registration files. Any mismatches between state records and USCIS data could prompt further review, which may change registration status for some residents or require outreach to ensure eligible voters remain registered.

The program raises questions about data accuracy, privacy safeguards, and administrative oversight. SAVE is a federal system created to verify immigration and citizenship information for benefit programs, and its use in voter roll maintenance increases the importance of transparent procedures and clear notice for residents whose records are queried. Errors in matching or delays in record updates could have the practical effect of confusing voters or creating additional administrative burdens before elections.

Local officials have a responsibility to communicate how matches will be handled, what notices voters will receive, and how registrants can correct or contest information. Residents in Lewis and Clark County should monitor communications from the county elections office and verify their registration status ahead of future elections. The state and federal partners will face scrutiny over how the system is implemented, and the outcome will shape public confidence in both the accuracy of the rolls and the integrity of local electoral administration.