State records reviewed by Reuters point to software glitches and clerical mistakes in voter-registration systems.

WASHINGTON — September 23, 2026 — More than 30,000 people who had identified themselves as non-citizens may have been added to U.S. voter rolls since 2000 because of software problems and clerical errors, according to a Reuters review of official state records.

The review found cases across both Republican- and Democratic-led states, highlighting differences between voter-registration databases and the systems states use to process driver's licenses and identification documents.

The records do not establish that the individuals identified in the review actually voted illegally. Instead, they show that some people who had indicated they were not U.S. citizens were subsequently included in voter-registration databases.

Election officials use various procedures to identify and remove people who are ineligible to vote. The findings are likely to add to the political debate over voter eligibility, election administration and voter-roll maintenance ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The issue is particularly significant as states continue reviewing voter-registration databases before November's congressional elections. Federal and state officials are also debating how much authority should be used to verify citizenship information and maintain accurate voter rolls.