As of October 21, 2026, naturalization ceremony voter registration by outside groups is back. USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-11, issued August 31, 2026, rescinded the 2025 policy that allowed only state and local election officials to register new citizens, and reinstated guidance that lets nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations distribute and collect voter registration applications right after administrative naturalization ceremonies when election offices are not available (USCIS, PA-2026-11). The change is effective immediately (USCIS, PA-2026-11).
The courts have closed the question too. On October 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland entered a final judgment vacating the 2025 policy, and the federal government waived any right to appeal (Final Judgment, League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 8:25-cv-03777-ABA). If you are working toward citizenship, our guide to naturalization after an employment-based green card covers when you can file.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-11 (August 31, 2026) rescinded PA-2025-21 and reinstated the June 28, 2017 Policy Manual guidance, effective immediately.
- PA-2025-21 (August 29, 2025) had allowed only state and local election officials to offer voter registration services at administrative naturalization ceremonies.
- On August 3, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland stayed PA-2025-21 in League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 25-cv-3777.
- A final judgment dated October 14, 2026 vacated PA-2025-21 under 5 U.S.C. 706(2), and the government waived any right to appeal.
- The order of preference is state or local election offices first, then approved nonprofit, nonpartisan groups, then USCIS handing out blank applications.
- Groups must apply in writing at least 60 days before a ceremony and may not collect, retain or share registrants' personal information.
- Voter registration may take place only after the ceremony ends, when the participants are U.S. citizens.
What did the 2025 naturalization ceremony voter registration policy do?
On August 29, 2025, USCIS issued Policy Alert PA-2025-21, effective immediately for ceremonies held on or after its publication date (USCIS, PA-2025-21). Its core instruction was short:
"With this guidance, USCIS is clarifying that only state and local election officials will be permitted to offer voter registration services at the end of administrative naturalization ceremonies." USCIS Policy Alert PA-2025-21 (August 29, 2025)
USCIS cited Executive Order 14148 and Section 9 of Executive Order 14248, Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections (USCIS, PA-2025-21). It explained the change by pointing to the administrative burden of making sure outside groups were nonpartisan, said use of those groups had been "sporadic," and said online registration in most states reduced the need for help (USCIS, PA-2025-21). It did not go through formal notice-and-comment procedures, which the court later found were required (Memorandum Opinion, August 3, 2026).
The effect on the ground was real. According to an August 2026 Votebeat report, the League of Women Voters said in its November 2025 complaint that it had canceled 166 planned events aimed at registering roughly 10,000 new voters (Votebeat, August 4, 2026).
What did the court decide in League of Women Voters v. USCIS?
The League of Women Voters and the National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section, filed separate suits that the court consolidated under Case No. 25-cv-3777 (Memorandum Opinion, August 3, 2026). On August 3, 2026, Judge Adam B. Abelson stayed PA-2025-21 under 5 U.S.C. 705 pending final resolution, based on the plaintiffs' Administrative Procedure Act and First Amendment free speech claims and NCJW's Fifth Amendment equal protection claim, and reinstated the Policy Manual as it stood on June 28, 2017 (Memorandum Opinion, August 3, 2026).
USCIS said on August 10, 2026 that it disagreed with the decision but would comply while it considered next steps (USCIS alert, August 10, 2026). It issued PA-2026-08 on August 12, 2026, temporarily reverting to the 2017 guidance pending final resolution of the litigation (USCIS, PA-2026-08). PA-2026-11 then went further, rescinding PA-2025-21 outright rather than suspending it (USCIS, PA-2026-11).
The final judgment, entered on the parties' joint stipulation, adopted the August 3 findings as final and ruled for the plaintiffs on the merits of the listed claims (Final Judgment):
"Policy Alert PA-2025-21 and the corresponding revisions to the USCIS Policy Manual are held unlawful and VACATED pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)." Final Judgment, League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 8:25-cv-03777-ABA (D. Md. Oct. 14, 2026), para. 3
The judgment also reinstates the corresponding 2017 Policy Manual provisions and states that the defendants have waived any right to appeal (Final Judgment).
What is in force now? Status as of October 21, 2026
| Item | Document | Status on October 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Ban on nongovernmental voter registration at ceremonies | PA-2025-21 (Aug. 29, 2025) | Rescinded by USCIS as of Aug. 31, 2026; vacated by the court Oct. 14, 2026 |
| Court stay of the ban | Memorandum Opinion (D. Md. Aug. 3, 2026) | Replaced by the final judgment |
| Temporary return to 2017 guidance | PA-2026-08 (Aug. 12, 2026) | Superseded by PA-2026-11 |
| Rescission and reinstated guidance | PA-2026-11 (Aug. 31, 2026); 12 USCIS-PM J.5 | In effect; feedback period closed Oct. 1, 2026 |
| Final judgment | No. 8:25-cv-03777-ABA (Oct. 14, 2026) | Final; defendants waived appeal |
Sources for the table: PA-2025-21 (USCIS), the August 3 opinion (court copy), PA-2026-08 (USCIS), PA-2026-11 (USCIS), the feedback dates (USCIS, Policy Manual Feedback) and the final judgment (court copy).
One caution about the future: the judgment says it does not restrain "any future lawful decision-making" by the federal government on how ceremonies are run or how voter registration services are provided (Final Judgment). A new policy would need its own process, and could face its own challenge.
Who can register you to vote at a naturalization ceremony now?
The reinstated USCIS Policy Manual chapter starts from a firm rule:
"All newly naturalized citizens must be given the opportunity to register at the end of the administrative naturalization ceremony when the new citizen is then eligible to register to vote." 12 USCIS-PM J.5(F)(1)
It then sets an order of preference (USCIS Policy Manual, 12 USCIS-PM J.5):
- State or local election offices distribute and collect applications for an election official to review.
- Approved nonprofit, nonpartisan nongovernmental organizations do the same.
- If neither is available, USCIS hands out applications to all new citizens, but does not collect them.
Registration "must take place only after the conclusion of the ceremony, when the candidates are officially U.S. citizens" (12 USCIS-PM J.5(F)(2)). "Voter registration services" can include handing out forms, helping you complete them, checking that they are complete, collecting them for the local election official, and giving nonpartisan information on the voting process (12 USCIS-PM J.5(F)(2)).
What can a volunteer at the registration table do, and not do?
To qualify, a group must be nonprofit, nonpartisan and approved by USCIS field leadership, and must send a written request to the local USCIS Field Office Director at least 60 days before the ceremony; USCIS answers in writing at least 30 days before (12 USCIS-PM J.5(F)(3)). While participating, the group and its volunteers must not (12 USCIS-PM J.5(F)(3)):
- try to influence or interfere with your right to register or vote;
- take part in any political activity, partisan or otherwise;
- engage in religious or commercial solicitation;
- discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status or veteran status;
- collect, retain or share your personal information, even on a voluntary basis;
- use your registration information for anything other than voter registration; or
- alter your completed form in any way.
Volunteers must also wear a nametag with the organization's name and safeguard the information you give them (12 USCIS-PM J.5(F)(3)). If a group breaks the rules, or a new citizen, a guest or the election office complains about its behavior or its ability to provide registration services properly, USCIS field leadership may revoke its participation after consulting the Ethics Division of the USCIS Office of the Chief Counsel (12 USCIS-PM J.5(F)(4)).
These rules apply only to administrative ceremonies, where a USCIS-designated official or an immigration judge administers the oath, and not to judicial ceremonies where a federal, state or local court administers it (12 USCIS-PM J.5). Federal court ceremonies were also not at issue in the case (Memorandum Opinion, August 3, 2026). Note that the general USCIS naturalization ceremonies page, last updated February 12, 2026, still says applications may be distributed by an election official or a USCIS official and does not mention outside groups (USCIS, Naturalization Ceremonies). The Policy Manual is the controlling text (USCIS, PA-2026-11).
What this means for you
For most readers, the practical change is convenience: at many administrative ceremonies you may again find a table where someone can help you register on the spot, just after you become a citizen. Nothing about your eligibility to naturalize changed, and registering is your choice.
The timing rule matters far more than the policy fight. USCIS states plainly that you are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance (USCIS, Naturalization Ceremonies). USCIS treats a noncitizen who answers "yes" to a citizenship question in order to register to vote, including on a driver's license form, as having made a false claim to citizenship and as removable, and voting in a federal election as a noncitizen is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 611 (12 USCIS-PM F.5). Our post on what a misrepresentation costs explains why these problems are hard to undo.
- Do not answer "yes" to any citizenship question, or register to vote, until after you have taken the oath.
- Check your Certificate of Naturalization for errors before you leave the ceremony (USCIS, Naturalization Ceremonies).
- If you do not register at the ceremony, you can register at post offices, motor vehicle offices, county election boards or your Secretary of State's office (USCIS, Naturalization Ceremonies), or start through vote.gov (USAGov, How to register to vote).
- Check your state's documents and deadline: the documents you need vary by state (USAGov, How to register to vote), every state has its own deadline, a deadline can be as much as a month before an election, and North Dakota does not require registration (USAGov, Voter registration deadlines). The next midterm elections are in November 2026 (USAGov, Midterm elections).
- Wait at least ten days after the ceremony, then update your Social Security record (USCIS, Naturalization Ceremonies).
If you are still a green card holder and plan long stays abroad before you naturalize, read our guide to reentry permits.
Where to start
If you are still on the way to a green card, our free evaluation shows which employment-based routes fit your profile, and Frank, our AI assistant, finds real opportunities for the criteria you are missing. Petitions are reviewed and filed by our partner law firm, Lai & Turner.
Sources
All checked October 21, 2026.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-11, Non-Governmental, Nonpartisan Organization Voter Registration Services at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies (August 31, 2026). Rescission of PA-2025-21, reinstated guidance, effective date, background.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2025-21, Voter Registration at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies (August 29, 2025). The 2025 restriction, its executive order basis and its stated reasons.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-08, Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies (August 12, 2026). Temporary reversion to the 2017 guidance.
- USCIS alert, Court issues Stay: Permits participation of Non-Governmental Organizations at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies (August 10, 2026). USCIS disagreement and compliance.
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part J, Chapter 5, Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies (current as of October 2, 2026). Order of preference, timing, group requirements, revocation and scope (administrative, not judicial, ceremonies).
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part F, Chapter 5, Conditional Bars for Acts in Statutory Period (current as of October 2, 2026). False claims to citizenship, unlawful registration and voting.
- USCIS, Policy Manual Feedback (accessed October 21, 2026). PA-2026-11 feedback period extended to October 1, 2026.
- USCIS, Naturalization Ceremonies (last updated February 12, 2026). Citizenship begins at the oath; certificate, voter registration options, Social Security update.
- Memorandum Opinion, League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 25-cv-3777-ABA (D. Md.) (August 3, 2026; court filing ECF No. 59, copy hosted by Democracy Docket). Consolidation, stay under 5 U.S.C. 705, grounds, no notice-and-comment, judicial ceremonies not at issue.
- Final Judgment, League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 8:25-cv-03777-ABA (D. Md.) (October 14, 2026; court filing ECF No. 74, copy hosted by Campaign Legal Center). Vacatur, reinstatement, appeal waiver, future decision-making clause.
- Votebeat, Ruling against USCIS means nonpartisan groups can register voters at naturalization ceremonies (August 4, 2026). Secondary: canceled events and registration figures from the League's complaint.
- USAGov, How to register to vote (last updated October 6, 2026). Registering through vote.gov; documents vary by state.
- USAGov, Voter registration deadlines (last updated February 23, 2026). State deadlines; North Dakota.
- USAGov, Congressional elections and midterm elections (last updated October 6, 2026). Midterms in November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can nonprofit groups register voters at naturalization ceremonies in 2026?
Yes. Since USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-11 took effect on August 31, 2026, nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations approved by local USCIS field leadership may distribute, help complete, review and collect voter registration applications after administrative naturalization ceremonies, when state or local election offices are not available to do so. A federal court also vacated the 2025 policy that had barred them, in a final judgment dated October 14, 2026.
Can I register to vote before my naturalization ceremony?
No. You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance, and the USCIS Policy Manual says registration at a ceremony must happen only after it ends. Registering earlier by answering yes to a citizenship question, for example on a driver's license form, can be treated as a false claim to U.S. citizenship, and voting in a federal election as a noncitizen is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 611.
Do I have to register to vote at my naturalization ceremony?
No. The USCIS Policy Manual requires that every new citizen be given the opportunity to register at the end of an administrative ceremony, but registering there is your choice. You can also register later at places such as post offices, motor vehicle offices, county election boards or your Secretary of State's office, or start online through vote.gov. Each state sets its own documents and deadlines, and a deadline can be as much as a month before an election.
Does the voter registration policy apply to court naturalization ceremonies?
No. The USCIS Policy Manual chapter applies only to administrative naturalization ceremonies, where a USCIS-designated official or an immigration judge administers the Oath of Allegiance, and not to judicial ceremonies where a federal, state or local court administers it. Federal court ceremonies were also not at issue in League of Women Voters v. USCIS. Most new citizens take the oath at an administrative ceremony, according to the court's August 3, 2026 opinion.
What happens if no election office or nonprofit group attends my ceremony?
USCIS itself hands out voter registration applications to all new citizens. Under the USCIS Policy Manual, this is the third option, used only when neither a state or local election office nor an approved nonprofit, nonpartisan group is providing services. In that case USCIS is not responsible for collecting completed applications or for any other voter registration activity, so returning your completed form to your election office is up to you.
Green Card Guide AI is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It describes evidence-building strategy in general terms; your attorney determines what belongs in your petition and how it's argued.
