DES MOINES - We have been requesting access to information from the federal government that will help us verify eligibility of Iowa voters and clarify uncertainty on citizenship status of some self-reported noncitizens.

Last week, we were pleased that the Des Moines Field Office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) told us that they would review all 2,176 names that were provided to county auditors for precinct election officials to challenge. The Des Moines Field Office has since informed us that they had completed a review of every name. Now, the office in Washington, D.C. is refusing to let the Des Moines office share those results with us. This information would be critical to Iowa’s election officials in this process and ensure naturalized citizens can cast their ballots as normal.

The U.S. Department of Justice has indicated they may challenge Iowa’s process. During our initial meeting with the DOJ, we informed them that USCIS had already reviewed each and every name and has determined whether they are naturalized or are still noncitizens. As such, we asked the DOJ to request their federal colleagues at the Washington, D.C. Office to release this important clarifying data to us.

The work has been done. The most current, verified information is available. Yet Washington, D.C. will not share it with us. We have heard it before – “see something, say something.” The federal government has said it themselves but have not followed through. If the federal government has information that will ensure only U.S. citizens vote AND ensure naturalized citizens can cast their ballot as normal, that information must be shared.

We are grateful to the Des Moines Field Office of USCIS for performing this laudable task on behalf of Iowa voters. We urge the Washington, D.C. Office, who refuses to release this key information, to do so and provide clarity and certainty regarding these Iowa voters and allow Iowa elections to be run more efficiently.

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