The United States Supreme Court has allowed the federal government to use the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to check voter eligibility temporarily. This decision comes after a district judge had blocked its use.
1. Background of the Case: The case, Department of Homeland Security v. League of Women Voters, involved a lawsuit by the League of Women Voters, which argued that using the SAVE system violated the confidentiality protections of the Social Security Act.
2. Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on the lower court's ruling, allowing the federal government to use the SAVE program while the appeal is ongoing. It did not make a final ruling on the merits of the case.
3. Government's Argument: The DHS believes that the SAVE program is essential for verifying voter eligibility and preventing noncitizen voting. The majority opinion highlighted a federal law that supports the DHS's authority to request social security information.
4. Dissenting Opinion: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, alongside Justices Kagan and Sotomayor, dissented, arguing that the potential disenfranchisement of lawful voters is a significant harm.
This Supreme Court decision enables the federal government to continue using the SAVE database during the appeal process, advocating for preventing unlawful voter registration while recognizing the concerns raised about voter confidentiality.
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