Key Takeaways
• South Carolina uses updated federal SAVE system to verify voter citizenship starting 2025.
• Counties must report unverified voters to Attorney General by October 31, 2025.
• Voter rolls cleaned by marking inactive those absent since 2020; final removals after four years.
South Carolina is making important changes to how it checks the citizenship status of people who want to vote. The South Carolina Election Commission has announced new steps, using updated federal systems, to make sure that only U.S. citizens can vote in the state’s elections. These changes come after voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2024, which made it clear that only U.S. citizens have the right to vote in South Carolina. This move is part of a wider effort to keep the state’s elections fair and trustworthy for everyone involved.
Why South Carolina Is Checking Voter Citizenship
The history behind this new step goes back to 2024, when voters in South Carolina decided to change the state constitution. Before this change, only citizens could vote according to tradition and law, but the amendment made it crystal clear in the state’s main legal document: only U.S. citizens may vote in South Carolina’s elections. This update removed any possible confusion about who is allowed to take part in elections, and set the groundwork for more direct checks on voter citizenship.
After this constitutional change, the South Carolina Election Commission began working on new ways to confirm the citizenship of everyone signing up to vote. In August 2024, the Election Commission asked the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for help checking the citizenship status of new voters through a federal program. However, that first request was turned down in October 2024. Later, after a new president took office and election security became a bigger priority at the federal level, the Commission asked again in early 2025. This time, the request was approved, giving South Carolina new tools and more support from the federal government.
Details of the New Voter Citizenship Check
One of the biggest changes is the use of the improved federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program (SAVE). Under Executive Order 14248, titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” the SAVE program received several updates to help with voter citizenship checks. Here are the main changes that will affect South Carolina’s efforts:
- The new SAVE tool now allows state agencies like South Carolina’s Election Commission to confirm the citizenship of people applying to register to vote.
- State agencies will no longer have to pay transaction fees to use SAVE when checking voter registration or updating voter lists.
- For now, most checks will rely on Alien Numbers (a unique number given to many noncitizens) and Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization Numbers (official documents for new citizens).
- Soon, future updates will make it possible to use other information, such as Social Security Numbers, to help with checks.
South Carolina officials believe these improvements will make it much easier for them to prove that every person on the voter rolls is legally allowed to vote. The main goal is to follow the citizen-only rule set out by the new amendment, without making mistakes or wrongly excluding citizens. The tools also include due process protections, which means anyone whose citizenship cannot be verified right away will get a fair chance to prove it.
The South Carolina Election Commission stated, “South Carolinians can be confident that, heading into the 2026 election cycle, our procedures fully reflect the citizen-only voting requirement approved by voters in 2024.” This shows their commitment to following the new rules and protecting the voting process.
The Step-by-Step Process for Checking Citizenship
To put these new rules into effect, South Carolina has set up a long-term plan. First, every county board of voter registration and elections had to find all the registered voters who had not yet provided good proof that they are U.S. citizens. By October 31, 2025, these county boards needed to give the Attorney General a complete list of these voters.
Once the Attorney General gets the list, the office will have to check each person’s citizenship status. This will involve using:
- The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) database, which collects information about driver’s licenses and state IDs.
- Social Security Administration data, which keeps records on every person with a Social Security Number.
- The federal SAVE program, as described above.
- A public health statistics system called the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems Electronic Verification of Vital Elements, which can check birth and citizenship documents.
- Any other useful federal, state, county, or city databases.
This method means that several different databases will be used together to try to find clear evidence about everyone on the list. This approach helps catch any mistakes and gives every voter multiple ways to show they are a citizen.
By March 1, 2026, the Attorney General must write a full report for the Governor and the leaders of the state legislature. This report will show what was found about the citizenship status of all registered voters who had not given good proof by October 31, 2025. This report is an important part of making sure the process is clear and honest, and that state leaders and the public know what steps have been taken.
You can read the official plan and rules on the South Carolina Legislature’s website.
What Happens to Voters Who Haven’t Voted Recently?
At the same time as the citizenship check, South Carolina is also working to keep the voter rolls up to date. On April 7, 2025, the Election Commission sent out more than 190,000 “voter confirmation cards.” These were sent to people who have not voted since the 2020 General Election and have not updated their voter information in that time. This group makes up about 5% of all registered voters in the state, showing that a large number of people may not be keeping their records current.
If you receive a voter confirmation card, you must sign it, write the date, and send it back within 90 days. If you do not do this, your name will be marked as “inactive” in the Election Commission’s records. Being inactive means that you are still registered, but you will not be allowed to vote until you fix your records.
If you go another four years without returning a card, updating your information, or voting in an election, your name will be taken off the voter list altogether. This extra step helps clean up the voter rolls, making sure they only include people who still live in South Carolina and who still care about voting.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these efforts help prevent mistakes, like people being listed to vote in more than one state or people who have moved but not updated their address. Cleaning up the rolls also helps provide a fairer voting process, because each vote matters a little more when you know the list only includes eligible, active voters.
What Do These Changes Mean for Different Groups?
For most citizens, there will not be much change when registering to vote, unless you have not given proof of citizenship or you have not voted in a long time. If you are registering for the first time, you might be asked for documents showing that you are a U.S. citizen, such as a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization paper. If your citizenship is questioned, you will have ways to respond and show evidence, since the procedures include steps to protect your rights.
For noncitizens, the updates make it very clear that they cannot register or vote in any South Carolina election. Because the state is now comparing many databases and using new tools, it will be harder for someone who is not a citizen to register by mistake or by giving false information.
For people who have become U.S. citizens more recently, such as naturalized citizens, you may receive extra questions or requests to show your naturalization documents if the data from the other systems does not match up. It is a good idea to keep your official citizenship documents (like your Certificate of Naturalization) somewhere safe and easy to find just in case you need them for voter registration.
If you are an employer with workers who have recently gained citizenship, you may also wish to share information about the need for proper documents when registering to vote in South Carolina.
County and state election officials now have more responsibility to carefully check records and flag people with missing information for further review. These workers will receive updated training and have to follow clear procedures set out by the South Carolina Election Commission.
Changes Compared to the Old Rules
Before these changes, most counties took voters at their word about citizenship, using a form where applicants checked a box or signed an oath saying they were U.S. citizens. There were some spot checks but no direct link to federal databases to double-check this information.
Now, the main changes include:
- Direct access to improved federal databases and tools (like SAVE)
- The ability to check many data points across state and federal agencies
- No fee required for checks related to voter registration
- A clear reporting schedule for the Attorney General
These updates give election officials more resources to make sure every voter is truly eligible, while still giving people a fair way to prove their citizenship if there is a question.
Are There Any Controversies or Questions About These Changes?
Voter citizenship checks can be a sensitive topic. Some groups have raised concerns, asking whether these steps might make it harder for some citizens—especially naturalized citizens, minorities, or people without easy access to their documents—to prove they are allowed to vote. Others worry that the extra checks might cause delays or confusion, especially right before elections.
Supporters of the new rules say that these changes protect the right to vote and help stop anyone from voting who is not supposed to. They also point out that the tools use several different sources and always give people a fair chance to make corrections or provide evidence if needed.
Howard Knapp, Executive Director of the South Carolina Election Commission, said that these steps ensure “our procedures fully reflect the citizen-only voting requirement approved by voters in 2024.” This shows the state’s commitment to listening to what voters wanted.
Timeline of the Legal Process
- 2024: South Carolina voters approve a constitutional amendment confirming only U.S. citizens can vote.
- August 2024: The Election Commission asks the federal government for new verification tools but is refused.
- October 2024: First request for federal help is denied.
- Early 2025: New federal leadership opens the door for another request, which is approved.
- May 20, 2025: The Election Commission announces the launch of new federal verification tools.
- April 7, 2025: Confirmation cards are mailed to over 190,000 inactive voters.
- October 31, 2025: Deadline for counties to give lists of voters with unverified citizenship to the Attorney General.
- March 1, 2026: Deadline for the Attorney General’s report to the Governor and legislative leaders.
Implementation and Next Steps
These new citizenship checks and voter registration roll cleaning steps will require careful teamwork between election officials at all levels. Training materials are being updated, and election law experts will be advising staff to make sure every part of the law is followed. Voters are encouraged to check their own records, keep proof of citizenship safe, and respond right away to any communications from election offices.
Anyone with questions about their status or voting rights in South Carolina can visit the official South Carolina Election Commission website for clear, updated information and contact details.
Key Takeaways
- South Carolina’s new laws now require the citizenship status of all voters to be confirmed using updated federal and state tools.
- Only U.S. citizens may vote in the state’s elections, as confirmed by the 2024 constitutional amendment.
- The Election Commission will use improved databases and free tools to check citizenship.
- Voters must respond promptly to any requests for proof or confirmation if contacted.
- Officials must follow strict timelines to report and act on this information.
Please note: This article does not give individual legal advice. If you are concerned about your voter registration or citizenship proof, you should speak to an immigration attorney or election law expert for help with your unique situation. For more details, visit the South Carolina Election Commission’s official website.
Learn Today
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) → A federal program used to verify immigration and citizenship status for benefit eligibility and voting.
Executive Order 14248 → A federal directive enhancing election integrity, including updates to citizenship verification tools for states.
Alien Number → A unique identification number assigned to noncitizens for immigration and verification purposes.
Certificate of Naturalization → Official document proving a person’s acquisition of U.S. citizenship after birth.
Voter Roll → An official list of registered voters eligible to participate in elections.
This Article in a Nutshell
South Carolina is enforcing new voter citizenship checks after a 2024 amendment. Using federal SAVE tools, officials verify records to protect election integrity. Voters must respond to confirmations or risk inactivity. The Attorney General reports findings by March 2026, ensuring legal citizenship for all registered voters statewide.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Portugal voting rights for foreigners a key issue ahead of 2025 election
• Polish nationalists rally in Warsaw against immigration before election
• Liberal Party plans to stabilize immigration policy after election win
• Portugal Orders 18,000 Foreigners Out Before Election
• U.S. elections allow Americans abroad to vote without a U.S. address
