Oregon will not submit its voter rolls to an expanded federal citizenship database that the U.S. Supreme Court cleared for use Friday, Secretary of State Tobias Read said, setting the state’s course less than six weeks before the November 3 general election.
The September 25 order allows the federal government to resume offering the revised Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, known as SAVE, while a lawsuit over its expansion proceeds. States and local election offices may choose to send voter information for checks against the system. The ruling does not require them to do so.
“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court will have no impact on Oregon’s upcoming election,” Read said in a statement. “Oregon will not participate in a flawed system that will likely result in eligible voters losing their right to vote.”
Read also accused President Donald Trump and his administration of trying to avoid accountability from voters. That allegation reflects the secretary’s assessment of the administration’s motives; the court’s order addresses whether the federal government may operate the revised database during the appeal.
SAVE was developed to help government agencies verify immigration and citizenship information, primarily in connection with public benefits. Federal officials expanded its election-related functions in 2025, adding checks against other federal records, including Social Security data, and the ability to process large groups of records. Participating election offices can use it to request citizenship checks on people listed in voter registration files.
Voting rights organizations sued over the expansion. They argued that outdated or incomplete information could identify U.S. citizens as possible noncitizens, particularly when federal records do not reflect a person’s later naturalization. They also challenged the federal government’s handling of personal information used by the revised system.
A federal district court blocked the expanded program in June, and a federal appeals court declined to suspend that decision earlier this month. On Friday, the Supreme Court granted the federal government’s request for a stay, allowing the revised SAVE system to operate while the appeal continues.
The justices did not issue a final ruling on whether the expansion complies with federal law. They also did not decide a separate question about removing voters from registration rolls close to an election. Three justices dissented from Friday’s order, citing concerns about voters who could be affected by inaccurate information.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has raised similar concerns about the practical consequences of relying on federal database results. In a written objection to the SAVE expansion, Rayfield and other state officials warned that uncertain or incorrect results could require states to investigate large numbers of records and leave eligible people facing questions about their status. Federal officials argue that the revised program gives states a more effective way to verify citizenship.
Read’s refusal to use the expanded system means Oregon will proceed with its existing voter registration and election procedures. The Oregon Department of Justice says it is working with the Secretary of State’s office to protect the state’s election process.
Oregon DOJ is also involved in separate litigation over proposed federal rules affecting mailed ballots. That case concerns the handling of election mail and is not decided by Friday’s ruling on SAVE. The department says Oregonians will continue to vote by mail this fall.
For voters in Josephine and Jackson counties, October 13 remains the deadline to register for the general election. Counties are scheduled to begin mailing ballots October 14. Ballots placed in official drop boxes must be received by 8 p.m. November 3, while mailed ballots must carry a valid Election Day postmark.
Voters can check their registration and ballot status through Oregon’s My Vote service. Anyone who does not receive a ballot can contact their county elections office for assistance.