DHS Sought Contractors for Voter Roll Data
The Department of Homeland Security has initiated a project to acquire public voter registration records nationwide.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Elections
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The Department of Homeland Security has issued procurement documents seeking a private contractor to collect publicly available voter registration data across all 50 states. This initiative aims to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations with fraud detection efforts.
Why it matters
The agency aims to identify potential non-U.S. citizens on voter rolls to bolster fraud detection. The project follows internal audits and previous analyses that identified thousands of instances of non-citizen registration records.
The federal effort has identified 24,000 cases of potential non-citizens on voter rolls out of 60 million queries, representing approximately 0.04% of checked records. In Wisconsin alone, the state sells its full voter roll for $12,500.
The players
Department of Homeland Security
This is a federal executive department responsible for public security, including border and immigration enforcement.
Wisconsin Election Commission
This agency manages statewide elections and maintains official voter registration databases for Wisconsin.
Census Bureau
This is the principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System responsible for producing data about the American people.
The details
Contractors are instructed not to include party affiliations in the delivered data unless a written request is made. The project builds on findings from the Census Bureau, which previously analyzed 128 million voter records from the 2020 election and found 500 instances of non-citizen records in Wisconsin.
Timeline
The Census Bureau analyzed 2020 election records for non-citizen voting markers.
In April 2025, DHS overhauled its voter verification program.
A federal judge dismissed a DOJ lawsuit against the Wisconsin Election Commission in May 2026.
FedScoop reported on the new federal procurement documents in September 2026.
Political Context
Opponents and civil rights groups have raised significant concerns regarding the privacy of voter data and the potential for federal overreach into state-run election administration. Critics argue that utilizing federal contracts to aggregate local data creates a centralized database that could be used to intimidate voters or suppress participation.
The collection of public voter information does not change the status of individual registrations, but it reflects an increased federal focus on auditing the integrity of national voter rolls. Residents should remain aware that publicly available registration information is being aggregated for federal review.
The takeaway
Voter registration data is typically a matter of public record and can be accessed by various entities depending on state laws. Understanding how federal agencies process this data is key for citizens concerned about the privacy and security of their personal information.
Further reading
For broader trends regarding federal oversight of state balloting, visit the Elections section.
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Should federal agencies be permitted to collect statewide voter registration data from states?
