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Bill

HB 966

Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE Program); use by Dept. of Elections.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marty Martinez and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia would authorize its elections department to use federal SAVE immigration database to verify voter citizenship before registration, potentially preventing non-citizen registration but raising accuracy and implementation concerns.

Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB966)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 966

Legislative bill overview

HB 966 would authorize Virginia's Department of Elections to use the federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) program to verify citizenship status of voter registration applicants. The bill appears designed to cross-reference voter registration data against federal immigration databases to identify and prevent non-citizens from registering to vote.

Why is this important

Voter eligibility verification is a core election administration function, and citizenship is a fundamental legal requirement for voting in all U.S. elections. This bill would operationalize a specific federal tool for this purpose at the state level, potentially affecting thousands of voter registration applications and raising questions about data security, accuracy, and implementation costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Data accuracy and false positives: SAVE was designed for benefits programs and may produce matches that don't reliably prove non-citizenship; individuals with similar names or data entry errors could face registration denials requiring costly appeals
  • Implementation costs and burden: The fiscal impact statement suggests potential expenses; smaller localities may struggle with technical requirements and staff training needed to properly administer the system
  • Privacy and federal data sharing: Using SAVE involves accessing sensitive federal immigration records; concerns exist about data security, retention periods, and whether voters are adequately informed their information is being checked against federal databases

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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