Iowa officials sue Biden administration for voter citizenship data

In Iowa, officials are engaged in a legal battle with the Biden administration over access to crucial citizenship information of over 2,000 registered voters. The lawsuit, filed recently, highlights the state's difficulties in verifying the citizenship status of individuals identified as noncitizens by the Department of Transportation. These officials, including Secretary of State Paul Pate and Attorney General Brenna Bird, argue that federal immigration data is essential to ensure election integrity and prevent illegal voting. The dispute stems from claims made by state officials that they have identified hundreds of noncitizens on Iowa's voter rolls. Without cooperation from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), they have had to rely on a potentially flawed list of individuals who self-identified as noncitizens at the Iowa Department of Transportation. The officials expressed concern that their inability to access more accurate immigration data hampers their efforts to maintain secure electoral processes. As the November 2024 election drew closer, Iowa election officials mandated that those flagged as noncitizens present proof of citizenship or vote via provisional ballots. This decision led to controversy, as the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa challenged the legality of this requirement on behalf of naturalized citizens whose voting rights were affected. A federal judge rejected their request to halt these mandates just before the election, escalating tensions between state and federal authorities. Amidst this backdrop, officials assert that they aim to ensure every legal vote counts while addressing concerns about noncitizen voting, which remains a contentious topic in American politics. While federal authorities maintain that significant voter fraud from noncitizens is rare, the perceived threat to electoral integrity continues to drive policy discussions at both state and national levels.