DES MOINES, Iowa — Ruth Toomer has been living in the United States since she was seven years old. She became a citizen several years ago, exercising her right to vote in the 2022 midterm elections for the first time.

Toomer is planning on bringing in her United States citizenship documentation when she and her husband go to vote on Tuesday; because of the Iowa Secretary of State releasing a list of more than 2,000 Iowa residents who may be challenged to a provisional ballot at the ballot box.

“I haven’t renewed my driver’s license since 2018 since we got married,” said Toomer, from Polk City, as she referenced to her husband. “…I got my citizenship in August of 2022, so I was very excited to vote in that election, so this will actually be my first presidential election. So then when I saw that they were going to be looking at both of those records I was like ‘I’m probably going to be on that list’.”

The list was compiled by the Secretary of State’s office crosschecking voter roll information with Iowa Department of Transportation records. The audit came as a way to confirm citizenship amongst Iowa voters, with Sec. Pate pointing the blame at the federal government for not sharing the “SAVE” list. That list has a record of legal noncitizens living in states across the country. Toomer was worried that since her license wouldn’t verify citizenship that she would be on the provisional ballot challenge list.

Toomer heard the news and asked State Auditor Rob Sand what she should do, he directed her to the Sec. of State’s office where she talked with the Polk County Auditor.

“The most recent verification that I’ve had is that I am registered to vote, and as of right now they can’t see any problems with it. They told me, do bring your certification, you know, that you are a United States citizen,” said Toomer. “So knowing that I have gone through all these steps to do what I need to do in order to be able to vote now, it’s frustrating that I have to go even further beyond this.”

The Iowa Secretary of State was sued by four naturalized citizens who are voters in Iowa, by the ACLU of Iowa and other organizations. The federal courts decision is expected prior to Election Day. Sec. Pate maintains that he wants every voter who is a U.S. citizen to have their vote count.

The office put out information this last week that said what documents can prove citizenship at the polls: a valid U.S. passport, certified U.S. birth certificate, report of birth abroad, or certificate of citizenship or naturalization from USCIS.