Supreme Court Allows Use of Voter Eligibility Database

Why it matters locally: The Supreme Court's decision to allow the full use of the federal voter eligibility database could impact how South Dakota maintains its voter rolls, potentially leading to increased scrutiny of registered voters to identify non-citizens ahead of the November elections. County election officials across the state will likely need to align their voter list maintenance procedures with the updated federal system.

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Friday lifted limitations on a federal voter eligibility database, allowing its use before the November elections. The decision impacts the Trump administration's efforts regarding voter rolls. The administration has focused on identifying non-citizens registered to vote. Previous restrictions had prevented the full implementation of the database for voter list maintenance. The Supreme Court's ruling clears the way for the administration to proceed with its updated system.