House Republicans Pass Bill Requiring Proof Of Citizenship To Vote

House Republicans passed a measure that would require impervious of U.S. citizenship to registry to ballot successful national elections. The authorities has wide support among Congressional Republicans and President Trump, but it does not person capable support to get nan 60 votes needed for support successful nan Senate. 

The measure prohibits states from accepting aliases processing a elector exertion without impervious of citizenship, which includes: a commencement certificate, passport aliases recognition that’s REAL ID compliant arsenic agelong arsenic it indicates nan individual is simply a citizen. 

Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-OK: “We must guarantee that it is easy to ballot and difficult to cheat.”  

Republicans mention surveys that show a beardown mostly of Americans support requiring group to supply impervious of citizenship erstwhile registering to ballot for nan first time. A 2024 Gallup canvass recovered 83% are successful favour while 15% are opposed. 

Rep. Bryan Steil, R-WI: “Non-citizen voting reduces assurance successful our elections. American elections are for American citizens and we intend to support it that way.” 

Democrats opportunity it would make registering to ballot a burden. They contend astir people’s driver’s licenses do not comply and that it would extremity registration by mail. 

Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-N.Y.: “American citizens would person to look successful person, astatine an predetermination office, bring pinch them various documents and forms to registry to vote. Think astir it – conscionable to workout your fundamental, inalienable authorities arsenic a national of this country, Republicans would unit Americans into a paperwork nightmare burying elector registration nether a upland of bureaucracy and reddish tape.” 

The measure creates caller requirements for purging elector rolls. It besides gives states free entree to national registers that incorporate citizenship data. 

Republicans mention cases of non-citizens either registering to ballot aliases casting a ballot. There were 13 individuals referred for prosecution successful Michigan for non-citizen voting successful nan 2024 election, and complete nan years thousands of non-citizens person been removed from elector rolls successful Pennsylvania and Georgia. 

Democrats contend this is not a problem that needs to beryllium addressed. 

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-OR: “Federal rule already requires group to attest nether punishment of perjury that they are US citizens erstwhile they registry to vote. Non-citizens attempting to registry to ballot is exceedingly uncommon and if they do they look terrible consequences including fines, up to 5 years successful prison, and deportation.” 

President Trump signed an executive bid requiring impervious of citizenship astatine registration and group predetermination time deadlines for mail-in ballots, among different measures. Republicans opportunity they want to, astatine slightest successful part, codify that executive bid pinch this bill.