A new executive order might change how naturalized citizens vote. The policy’s facing legal challenges and won’t take effect before the 2026 midterm elections. However, said change might still cause confusion for naturalized citizens.
Details of the Executive Order
The new executive order mandates the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) create a list of all confirmed U.S. citizens over the age of eighteen. State authorities receive the list ahead of federal elections for verification purposes. Additionally, the order mandates the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) track all mail-in and absentee ballots during federal elections.
Importance for Naturalized Citizens
Federal databases aren’t always accurate, and errors impact naturalized citizens disproportionately. They’re especially at risk of beings they:
- Have been recently naturalized.
- Changed their name.
- Have records spread across multiple government agencies.
Naturalized citizens whose status isn’t reflected in federal systems risk being let off the citizenship verification lists.
Action Steps
Naturalized citizens should:
- Check their Social Security records and update their citizenship status with SSA.
- Confirm their voter registration via their state’s election website.
- Review their state’s mail-in voting rules.
- Keep physical copies of their certificate of naturalization or U.S. passport secure.
Despite all the changes, naturalized citizens still have the same voting rights as any native-born citizens. That hasn’t changed.
As always, Immigration USA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.