Summary
Changes voting rules to make sure only U.S. citizens can register for federal elections by requiring them to show documents that prove their citizenship.
What problem does this solve?
Some people worry that individuals who are not U.S. citizens are registering to vote in federal elections. This bill requires all new voter registration applicants to provide documents proving they are a U.S. citizen before they can be registered.
Who does this affect?
- Voter registration applicants
- State and local election officials
- Naturalized citizens
What does this bill do?
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 2(b)
Header:
Requiring applicants to present documentary proof of united states citizenship
Requires proof of citizenship to register
Makes it a rule that anyone wanting to register to vote in a federal election must show documents that prove they are a U.S. citizen.
Lists acceptable documents for proof
Defines what documents can be used as proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, a REAL ID-compliant license, a military ID, or a certified birth certificate.
Creates a process for those without documents
Establishes a way for people without standard proof of citizenship to register by signing a sworn statement and providing other evidence, which an official must approve with an affidavit.
Requires states to check voter lists for non-citizens
Directs states to use federal databases, like those from Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, to find and remove any non-citizens from voter registration lists.
Adds new criminal penalties
Makes it a crime for election officials to register someone without proof of citizenship or for government workers to help a non-citizen try to register to vote.
Allows people to sue election officials
Gives individuals the right to file a lawsuit against an election official who registers someone to vote without the required proof of U.S. citizenship.
Mandates removal of non-citizens from voter rolls
Requires states to immediately remove a person from the official list of eligible voters if they receive verified information that the person is not a U.S. citizen.
What is the real world impact?
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Making it harder to vote
The bill adds a new, strict requirement to provide specific documents to register. This extra step could prevent some eligible citizens who lack easy access to these documents from registering to vote.
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Preventing non-citizen voting
The bill's main goal is to secure federal elections by creating a system to verify that every person who registers to vote is a U.S. citizen, preventing non-citizens from being on voter rolls.
When does this start?
The new rules will start as soon as the bill becomes law and will apply to all voter registration applications submitted on or after that date. The bill sets a few specific deadlines for government agencies.
Guidance for states
Within 10 days of the bill becoming law, the Election Assistance Commission must send guidance to states on how to follow the new rules.
State verification programs
States must create a program to check for and identify non-citizens on voter rolls within 30 days of the bill becoming law.