Washington D.C. – On March 12, 2024, Secretary of State Wes Allen of Alabama testified before the United States Senate on the crucial topic of election administration and integrity. This significant hearing provided an opportunity for Secretary Allen to address pertinent issues and respond to inquiries from members of the Senate committee.
Alabama’s Senator Katie Britt, hailing from Secretary Allen’s home state, had the honor of introducing him to the committee. In her introduction, Senator Britt expressed her pride in having Secretary Allen represent Alabama at such an important hearing. She underscored her commitment to advocating for stronger election integrity nationwide, emphasizing the significance of the discussions taking place.
During the hearing, Senator Britt posed a question to Secretary Allen regarding the tools available to election officials to ensure that only United States citizens are registering to vote or participating in elections. In response, Secretary Allen provided insight into the challenges faced by election administrators in verifying citizenship.
Secretary Allen candidly stated that election officials do not have readily available means to verify citizenship. He highlighted an instance where Alabama sought access to a list of noncitizens from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to cross-check voter registration records but was denied access to this information by the federal government.
In response to the denial of access to the list of noncitizens, USCIS directed Alabama’s Secretary of State’s office to utilize the Systematic Alien Verification Entitlements (SAVE) program for citizenship verification. However, Secretary Allen pointed out that SAVE explicitly prohibits its use for verifying citizenship for voter registration purposes, posing a significant limitation to election officials.
Secretary Allen concluded his response by expressing concern over the lack of effective measures to verify citizenship, particularly in light of ongoing challenges at the southern border. He emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
The hearing provided valuable insights into the complexities surrounding election administration and integrity, highlighting the need for constructive dialogue and potential policy reforms. For those interested in watching the recording of the hearing, it is available for viewing on the Senate Rules Committee website.
