DHS Approves Plan for Voter Citizenship Verification and Mail Ballot Monitoring

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has approved a plan to assist states in verifying that registered voters are U.S. citizens and to monitor mail ballot flows for potential signs of voter fraud. This initiative was approved on June 5, 2026, and is expected to launch by the end of June. Under the plan, states can submit their voter registration rolls to a federal immigration database for citizenship verification. State election officials will also gain secure access to citizenship information from federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the State Department. Additionally, DHS plans to collaborate with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to monitor mail-in and absentee ballot flows, identify unusual patterns, and generate investigative leads. The initiative follows President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ensuring citizenship verification in federal elections, which requires the creation of state citizenship lists. The USPS is also directed to ensure that mail-in ballots are delivered only to individuals officially enrolled on a state-provided participation list, and all outgoing mail-in ballot envelopes must feature specific markings and tracking barcodes.