Voter registration; require registrars to submit applicant's information into federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) System.
Impact
The legislation prescribes that by January 1, 2025, the Secretary of State must conduct biannual comparisons of the Statewide Elections Management System with the SAVE database. Registrars are required to report annually on the number of applicants flagged and those removed from the voter rolls following confirmation of ineligibility. Additionally, the bill addresses the handling of personally identifiable information, ensuring it remains confidential and exempt from public disclosure under the Mississippi Public Records Act.
Summary
House Bill 892 aims to enhance the voter registration process in Mississippi by amending Section 23-15-15 of the Mississippi Code. Primarily, the bill mandates that registrars verify applicants' citizenship status through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. This verification process is intended to ensure that only eligible individuals are registered to vote, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the electoral system in the state.
Contention
While proponents argue that HB 892 will bolster the integrity of the election process by preventing non-citizens from voting, critics may express concerns regarding potential overreach and the risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. Notably, the bill's requirement for registrars to place flagged applicants in a 'pending' status until citizenship can be verified may lead to confusion and accessibility issues for genuine applicants who may struggle to provide the necessary documentation. Furthermore, there are implications for local control in administering voter registration, especially given the potential backlog that could be caused by verification processes.