Should States Require Voters to Prove They’re U.S. Citizens to Vote in Federal Elections? (H.R. 6723)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 6723?
(Updated June 5, 2021)
This bill — the Ensuring American Voters Act — would prohibit states from registering voters for a federal election unless the individual provides proof that they’re a U.S. citizen. Qualifying documentary evidence would include any of the following (either an original or a photocopy): 1) A certified birth certificate issued by a state or local government; 2) A valid U.S. passport; 3) A Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the State Dept.; 4) A Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship issued by the Dept. of Homeland Security.
Argument in favor
Only American citizens should be casting votes in federal elections, that’s the law. To ensure some aren’t skirting the rules to vote fraudulently, the federal government should require that states get proof of citizenship from registering voters.
Argument opposed
This bill is a thinly veiled attempt at voter suppression and is a solution in search of a problem, because it’s rare for a non-citizen to successfully vote in a federal election. States should have their own voter registration rules.
Impact
Registering voters, particularly those without proof of citizenship; state elections agencies; and the American electorate.
Cost of H.R. 6723
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) introduced this bill to improve the security and integrity of federal elections by ensuring that foreign nationals aren’t able to register to vote fraudulently and improperly cast ballots. Gibbs cited seven indictments for fraudulent voting by foreign nationals in Franklin County, Ohio and 19 indictments in North Carolina from recent elections, and added:
“Only U.S. citizens should be voting in federal elections, yet there are gaps in the voter registration systems that can be exploited. A dozen states and the District of Columbia give illegal aliens the opportunity to obtain drivers’ licenses, with eight of those entities offering voter registration at the time of obtaining a license. To close this gap, I introduced the Ensuring American Voters Act today, which requires proof of citizenship citizenship at the time of registering to vote. This is a matter of protecting the integrity of our elections. We have made substantial investments in protecting our voting systems from foreign influence or corruption. It is time to take steps to stop illegal voting before it happens, rather than dealing with consequences after the fact.”
Credo Action expressed opposition to this bill, calling it “racist” and “voter ID on steroids”, before adding:
“There is absolutely no need for Gibbs’ legislation, because non-citizen voting just doesn’t happen. The Brennan Center for Justice found that non-citizens cast only 0.0001 percent of ballots and the small handful who try end up indicted under existing law. Gibbs’ bill is nothing more than a sham to shift attention away from the foreign governments like Russia and deep-pocketed corporations who are deliberately manipulating elections, perpetuate the voter fraud myth and give red meat to the Republican Party’s anti-immigrant base. You can bet that if it passes, election officials will be asking mostly Black and Brown folks to show their papers.”
This legislation has the support of four cosponsors, all of whom are Republicans.
Media:
Summary by Eric Revell
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