Connecticut Election Chief Campaigns Against Cleaning Up Voter Rolls?
Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas (D) is asking voters for another term in office, but her campaign platform features an unusual pledge: actively resisting federal tools designed to clean up voter registration lists.
In a public statement, Thomas made her stance clear, rejecting participation in both the federal SAVE program and the proposed SAVE Act—initiatives intended to verify citizenship status and ensure voter rolls remain accurate.
"Connecticut has not uploaded its voter rolls to the SAVE program—many other states already have," Thomas declared on social media.
While distinct in structure, both mechanisms share the common goal of maintaining accurate voter records:
The SAVE Program: Operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this system allows election officials to verify noncitizen immigration and citizenship status against federal databases.
The SAVE Act: Proposed federal legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections.
While Thomas acknowledged meeting with White House staff regarding the system, she cited unresolved questions as her rationale for opting out. Whether Connecticut’s voter databases interact with federal verification tools like SAVE is a decision made directly by the Secretary of the State. Thomas's message to voters remains straightforward: "I’ve said no, and I’ll keep protecting this precious right. I’m asking for your vote to keep doing this work."
Between the Lines: Only in blue-state Connecticut would the chief official tasked with overseeing election integrity campaign on a promise to fight against election verification tools.