Overview
- The Census Bureau posted a seven-page, unsigned “beginning analysis” on Aug. 18 that said roughly 24,000 matches were found after comparing about 128 million voter records to federal immigration and administrative files.
- The bureau matched a commercial nationwide voter file supplied by Data-Clear to federal datasets and used name, birth date and address when Social Security numbers were not available, a process experts say commonly produces false positives.
- Multiple news outlets and former Census officials reported the brief lacked named authors and typical methodological detail, and NPR and others flagged possible involvement of analysts tied to the America First Policy Institute.
- Election experts and fact-checkers say the matches are allegations not proof of illegal voting, the 24,000 figure is too small to have changed the 2020 outcome, and the report gives no information on whom those voters supported.
- The White House and Commerce Secretary have promoted the brief to press for the SAVE America Act, a step that is likely to increase federal pressure on states and fuel more legal and data‑sharing battles over voter records.