The United States is witnessing an unprecedented slowdown in the granting of citizenship just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. Data released by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) show that only 57,697 applications were approved in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, a stark contrast to the more than 200,000 approvals recorded in the same period two years earlier. At the same time, the number of pending cases has surged past 742,000, creating a bottleneck that could keep hundreds of thousands of eligible new voters from casting ballots.
Naturalization, the legal process by which a permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen, confers the right to vote in federal elections. When the pathway to citizenship stalls, the democratic fabric of the nation can be altered, especially in states where naturalized voters comprise a sizable share of the electorate.
Sharp decline in approvals and rising backlog
Quarterly statistics illustrate a dramatic reversal of the trend set during the Biden administration. In Q3 of fiscal year 2024, USCIS approved 218,720 applications while 462,974 remained pending. The following year, approvals climbed to 241,326 and the backlog grew to 529,018. By contrast, FY 2026 saw approvals plummet to 57,697 and pending cases balloon to 742,138. The approval rate among adjudicated cases fell from roughly 91% to 82%, indicating both fewer approvals and a slower overall processing pace.
Officials at the agency acknowledge a policy shift from the previous “rubber-stamping” approach. The current administration has introduced stricter scrutiny, resulting in a surge of applications that linger in limbo. Critics argue this is a deliberate strategy to curb the influx of new voters ahead of the midterm elections, a claim echoed by advocacy groups that monitor immigrant rights.
Geographic hotspots and political implications
The slowdown is not evenly distributed. Major field offices serving immigrant-dense regions have reported the steepest drops. In San Jose, California, approvals fell from 9,041 in the same quarter of 2025 to just 317 in 2026 – a 96.5% decrease. Seattle’s office recorded a 90.3% decline, while Houston’s numbers slipped by nearly half. These cities sit in states that together host more than half of all naturalized voters, according to Pew Research Center.
In Florida, Texas, New York and California, naturalized citizens constitute an essential portion of the voting-age population. In thirteen states plus the District of Columbia, they account for at least 10% of eligible voters. When thousands of pending applications sit idle in these “gateway” cities—Philadelphia (17,000 pending), Houston (31,000 pending), Georgia (17,300 pending)—the potential impact on turnout becomes a palpable concern for both parties.
Legal challenges and the administration’s stance
Immigration attorneys have warned that prolonged delays can effectively disenfranchise applicants, even without an outright denial. Former senior DHS official Adam Klein noted that postponing a naturalization ceremony until after an election can achieve the same practical effect as a denial, because the right to vote is activated only upon taking the oath of citizenship. The administration, meanwhile, points to budgetary constraints and staffing shortages as the primary drivers of the backlog, rejecting accusations of political manipulation.
Congressional oversight committees have begun probing the issue, asking why USCIS field offices lack the resources to process cases promptly. Advocacy groups such as the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) are pressing for transparent timelines and increased staffing, arguing that a fair and timely adjudication process is a cornerstone of democratic participation.
As the election draws near, the growing backlog could become a decisive factor in closely contested races, especially in states where naturalized voters are a swing demographic. Whether the slowdown will persist or be remedied in time remains uncertain, but the data underline a clear connection between immigration policy, administrative capacity, and the health of the electoral system.
