SB 2588 has been signed into law despite posing serious concerns around voter disenfranchisement. This bill, known as the “SHIELD (Safeguard Honesty Integrity in Elections for Lasting Democracy) Act,” requires election officials to verify voter citizenship using the federal SAVE system and other databases when processing voter registrations. If an applicant is flagged as potentially not a citizen, they must provide proof of citizenship within a set timeframe or be placed in a pending or rejected status, though no one can be removed solely based on a SAVE match. The bill also mandates annual statewide SAVE checks, reporting requirements to the legislature, and makes all related citizenship verification data confidential.

This law imposes new burdensome requirements related to voter registration processes and expands federal involvement in state election administration. It threatens to impede or even disenfranchise qualified Mississippi voters and likely violates the National Voter Registration Act.

The reliance on SAVE, a system not originally designed for voter eligibility verification, raises risks of false matches, administrative burden on local registrars, and potential delays or barriers for eligible voters, particularly naturalized citizens, or individuals with incomplete records. The “pending” status and documentation requirements effectively shift the burden of proof onto the voter, which could lead to temporary disenfranchisement if individuals fail to respond within tight timelines or lack immediate access to citizenship documents.

Today, we sent a letter to the Secretary of State reminding him of his legal obligations to comply with the NVRA (National Voter Registration Act), outline how the SHIELD Act could lead to potential legal violations; and to seek information about the implementation of the new eligibility verification procedures.