USCIS Reverts to 2017 Policy on NGO Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies
Published Aug 12, 2026Effective Aug 31, 2026
USCIS is temporarily reinstating its June 28, 2017 policy guidance allowing nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations to help register new citizens to vote at administrative naturalization ceremonies. The change follows a court order in League of Women Voters v. USCIS and rescinds PA-2025-21, effective August 31, 2026.
Key points
- USCIS is reverting to the June 28, 2017 policy guidance on NGO participation in naturalization ceremonies.
- The change follows a court order in League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 25-cv-3777 (D. Md. Aug. 3, 2025).
- Nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations may distribute and collect voter registration applications and register new citizens to vote after ceremonies, when state or local election offices are unavailable.
- PA-2025-21, Voter Registration at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies, is rescinded as of August 31, 2026.
- The reinstated guidance appears in USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Part J, Chapter 5, Sections F and H.
- This reversion applies while litigation over the policy remains pending and is not necessarily permanent.
Who is affected
New U.S. citizens attending administrative naturalization ceremonies and nonprofit organizations involved in voter registration.
What to do
No action is required by applicants; organizations seeking to participate should review the reinstated 2017 Policy Manual provisions in Volume 12, Part J, Chapter 5.
Full text
The complete official text was archived on this site on 2026-10-12. It stays available here even if the source link changes or is removed.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services www.uscis.gov U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of the Director Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009 PA- 2026-08 August 12, 2026 Policy Alert SUBJECT: Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies Purpose U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is temporarily reverting to the June 28, 2017 policy guidance on non-governmental organization participation in administrative naturalization ceremonies, consistent with the court order in League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 25-cv-3777 (D. Md. Aug. 3, 2025). Pending final resolution of the litigation, this guidance permits nonprofit and nonpartisan non-governmental organizations to participate in administrative naturalization ceremonies by distributing and collecting voter registration applications and officially registering new citizens to vote following the ceremony, when state and local election offices are not available to do so.
Background On August 29, 2025, USCIS issued a new Policy Manual Update and Alert that permitted only state and local election officials (and not non-governmental organizations) to provide voter registration services at administrative naturalization ceremonies.1 Under USCIS policy guidance and practice prior to August 2025, non-governmental organizations were permitted to provide voter registration applications and general information at administrative naturalization ceremonies. On August 3, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland stayed the implementation of the USCIS August 29, 2025 Policy Alert and Update pending final resolution of a legal challenge to the policy. League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 25-cv-3777 (D. Md. Aug. 3, 2026). The District Court also ordered USCIS to reinstate the relevant sections of the USCIS Policy Manual that were in effect on June 28, 2017. With this update, USCIS is temporarily reinstating the June 28, 2017 policy guidance to facilitate compliance with the Court’s order.
This guidance, contained in Volume 12 of the Policy Manual, is effective immediately, pending final resolution of the litigation. The guidance contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any related prior guidance.
Policy Highlights 1 See Voter Registration at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies, PA-2025-21, issued August 29, 2025.
PA-2026-08: Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies Page: 2
Pending final resolution of the litigation, permits non-governmental organizations to request to attend administrative naturalization ceremonies in order to provide “voter registration services.”
Clarifies activities considered acceptable “voter registration services,” including distribution, review, and assistance in completing voter registration forms.
Provides that non-governmental organizations must submit requests to provide voter registration services in writing to local USCIS offices at least 60 days prior to any event.
Reaffirms that non-governmental organizations may not alter completed voter registration materials in any manner, nor collect or retain personal information of those who sign up for voter registration at naturalization ceremonies.
Provides that a non-governmental organization that fails to comply with requirements may have their participation revoked.
Summary of Changes Affected Section: Volume 12 > Part J > Chapter 5, Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies
Reverts the content in Section F (Voter Registration After Naturalization Ceremonies) and Section H (Participation of Volunteers and Civic Organizations) to the June 28, 2017, policy guidance contained in these sections.
Citation Volume 12: Citizenship and Naturalization, Part 6, Oath of Allegiance, Chapter 5, Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies [12 USCIS-PM J.5].
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This summary was produced with AI from the official announcement. Only the official source is authoritative.