Attorney General Ken Paxton Helps Secure Supreme Court Victory Protecting Texas’s Access to Citizenship Information for Voter Roll Verification

Attorney General Ken Paxton assisted in securing a major victory at the Supreme Court of the United States, which allows the federal government to continue providing Texas and other states access to expanded federal citizenship information. This information is used to verify voter eligibility and maintain accurate voter rolls while litigation continues.

"Today's Supreme Court ruling is a win for the integrity of our elections and the democratic process," said Attorney General Paxton. "Texas must continue to be able to utilize resources that help us keep our elections fair and secure in order to protect the voice of the American people."

Previously, President Donald Trump expanded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements ("SAVE") system to improve the ability of state and local election officials to verify the citizenship status of individuals on voter rolls. Before this expansion, the system was substantially more limited and cumbersome for voter-list verification. Following the expansion, activist groups sued the federal government in an effort to block the modified SAVE system.

In April 2026, Attorney General Paxton intervened in the case to defend Texas's use of the modified SAVE system. Attorney General Paxton argued that access to SAVE advances the State's compelling interests in maintaining accurate voter rolls, preventing illegal votes, and ensuring fair and accurate elections. Attorney General Paxton also defended the federal government's authority to operate the modified system. He argued that the plaintiffs lacked a valid basis to prevent Texas from accessing information necessary to verify voter eligibility.

In June, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled against the federal government and Texas, setting aside the modified SAVE program. After appeal, the Supreme Court has now stayed the district court's judgment, allowing the modified SAVE system to resume while the litigation continues. In granting the stay, the Supreme Court concluded that the plaintiffs' claims likely lack merit. The ruling also emphasized that federal law requires DHS to respond to inquiries from state and local governments seeking to verify or ascertain an individual's citizenship or immigration status.

To read the ruling, click here.