Alaska Sends Over 3,000 Citizenship-Verification Letters Ahead of Primary

The Alaska Division of Elections mailed roughly 3,048 letters to registered voters, asking each recipient to confirm U.S. citizenship by phone, email or written response. Voters who reply are returned to the active roll; those who do not respond remain “inactive” but may still cast a provisional ballot that requires an oath affirming eligibility. The volume of letters is far above the roughly 200 names that typically surface during routine voter-roll maintenance.

Washington Examiner

The unusually large list resulted from a cross-check of the voter file with records held by the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Officials said many of the flagged records likely reflect outdated DMV data—such as individuals who obtained a driver’s license before becoming citizens and whose status has not been updated. Nationwide, the Trump administration has urged states to tighten citizenship verification ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, citing incidents like New Jersey’s software error that mistakenly registered about 6,600 non-citizens.

Washington ExaminerAlaska sends 3,000 letters asking voters to verify their citizenship

Steve Kirch, a division spokesperson, confirmed the 3,048-letter figure and noted that respondents who affirm citizenship are moved back to the active list. Kirch also illustrated how DMV records can lag, citing cases where former non-citizens later naturalized but remain flagged.

Alaska sends 3,000 letters asking voters to verify their citizenship

The letters have placed thousands of voters in inactive status, prompting the division to investigate the data discrepancy. Voters who do not respond can still vote via provisional ballots, but the process adds an extra verification step. Alaska officials say the review is ongoing as they seek to reconcile voter-roll and DMV records before the August primary.

Washington ExaminerAlaska sends 3,000 letters asking voters to verify their citizenship