Alaska sends 3,000 letters asking voters to verify their citizenship ahead of this year's elections

Alaska has sent more than 3,000 letters to registered voters asking them to confirm their citizenship status ahead of the August 18 primary elections. The move has sparked concern among some legislators, particularly because the number of letters is significantly higher than usual. According to Carol Beecher, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, the unusual volume appears to stem from outdated data collected during routine voter roll maintenance, which cross-references the division’s voter list with information from the Division of Motor Vehicles. During a legislative hearing, Beecher explained that the typical process yields about 200 names for additional scrutiny. However, this time, the number ballooned to nearly 3,500, according to her initial estimate. A spokesperson for the division later clarified that the exact figure was 3,048. The letters ask recipients to confirm their citizenship status through written, verbal, or electronic communication. Recipients whose names appear on the list are placed on an inactive voter roll. If they do not respond, they can still vote using a special ballot that requires them to affirm their eligibility. Beecher emphasized that the initiative does not aim to prevent individuals from voting but rather ensures that only citizens participate in the electoral process. Those who confirm their citizenship through the letters will be reinstated to the active voter list. Steve Kirch, a division spokesperson, confirmed that responses confirming citizenship would result in the voter being moved back to the active list. Some lawmakers expressed concern over the implications of the letters. State Representative Andrew Gray, a Democrat, noted that only citizens had reached out to him regarding the issue. Another Democrat, Ashley Carrick, questioned whether the letters were connected to Alaska’s decision to share detailed voter data with the U.S. Department of Justice last year. Beecher denied any link, stating that the information came solely from the DMV and that there had been no contact from the Department of Justice regarding any noncitizen voters. The timing of the letters coincides with increased national attention on allegations of noncitizen voting, despite evidence suggesting such instances are exceedingly rare. President Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed that noncitizen voting is prevalent, pushing for legislation that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration. These efforts include a stalled executive order aimed at creating a federal list of verified voters, although voter rolls remain the responsibility of individual states. Alaska is among at least 16 states that shared or agreed to share detailed voter information with the Trump administration, including personal identifiers such as dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. This data is processed through a Department of Homeland Security system designed to check for citizenship status, though critics argue the system risks incorrectly flagging eligible voters. Civil rights organizations in Alaska filed a lawsuit earlier this year challenging the state’s decision to share the data with the Department of Justice. The legal battle remains ongoing. In response to inquiries, the Division of Motor Vehicles issued a memo indicating that the Division of Elections had made a “nonroutine request” in March, asking for citizenship information on approximately 15,200 DMV license and identification applicants. The DMV stated it had provided clarification in June, though the full details of the exchange remain unclear.