WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Tuesday that the figure it previously reported for non‑citizens on U.S. voter rolls was significantly overstated.
In a briefing with congressional staff, DHS officials explained that a data‑integration error between the Department’s immigration database and state voter registration systems caused the inflation. The erroneous figure, which had been cited in several political debates, suggested that more than 5 million non‑citizens were registered to vote, a number now revised to approximately 1.2 million.
“The discrepancy was the result of a technical mismatch, not intentional misreporting,” said DHS spokesperson Lisa Hernandez. “We are working with the Election Assistance Commission and state officials to correct the data and prevent future errors.”
The revelation has reignited partisan disputes over voter‑fraud claims and election security. Republican lawmakers have demanded a full congressional investigation, while Democrats have urged the administration to focus on comprehensive voting‑rights reforms.
Civil‑rights groups welcomed the clarification but warned that the episode underscores the need for better data governance and transparency in the voter‑registration process.
The Department of Justice announced it will review the corrected data and assess whether any legal violations occurred. Meanwhile, the Federal Election Commission is set to issue new guidance to states on verifying citizenship status during voter registration.