As midterm elections approach, a federal program designed to catch non-citizens voting is raising concerns of mass disenfranchisement. The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program, originally intended to verify public benefit eligibility, has been expanded by the Trump administration to cross-reference voter rolls with immigration status data.

Experts warn that this initiative risks significant privacy breaches and could lead to thousands of eligible voters being wrongly identified as non-citizens. Eileen O’Connor from the Brennan Center for Justice states: 'The federal government doesn’t have the authority or expertise to intervene in state elections.'

The program has sparked legal challenges, with 16 states agreeing to hand over full voter registration lists and two implementing purges. Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson recently identified 2,724 potential non-citizens out of 18 million records.

However, the SAVE Program’s reliance on data from the Social Security Administration (SSA) is questionable. The SSA acknowledges its information as a 'snapshot' that may not accurately reflect current citizenship statuses. Multiple studies indicate minimal instances of non-citizen voter fraud, casting doubt on the program's necessity and efficacy.

While proponents argue it ensures fair elections, critics see it as an overreach that could deter legitimate voters and undermine democratic participation.