Federal advocacy group, Action, initiates intense campaign aiming to garner backing for mandatory citizenship proof in federal voting processes.
In a bid to strengthen the integrity of America's election system, the organisation Action has launched a major campaign to support a petition before the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The proposed rule, if passed, would require documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) when registering to vote in federal elections.
Currently, voter registration for federal elections relies on an honor system with no requirement for election officials to verify citizenship claims. This leaves room for potential issues, as highlighted by the Project on Immigration Law and Policy (PILF) whose data shows that noncitizen voting is already widespread in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and North Carolina.
Andy Mangione, Senior Vice President of Action, stated that the petition gives the American people a real chance to secure their elections. "With one clear rule, we can restore confidence and keep our voter rolls clean," Mangione emphasized. He further added that requiring documentary proof of citizenship is critical to the integrity of the democratic process and long overdue.
If passed, the petition would allow voters to present a wide range of documents to prove their citizenship. These include a U.S. passport or passport card, Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. Citizenship, REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID, U.S. military or dependent ID, Enhanced Driver's License or Tribal Card, and U.S. Citizen ID Card.
Notably, dozens of states still do not require photo ID to vote, and many accept forms of ID that do not distinguish between citizens and noncitizens. To address this issue, the proposed rule aims to restore integrity and trust in America's election system by ensuring that only eligible U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections.
In Michigan, over 1,400 noncitizens were removed from the voter rolls over the past decade. In Pennsylvania's Allegheny County alone, 139 noncitizens were registered to vote between 2006 and 2018, with 27% voting. PILF's research indicates that the number of noncitizen registrations is likely much higher, as many states conceal or ignore noncitizen registration.
The comment period for the petition is still open. In less than a day, Action members have submitted more than 6,700 public comments through the campaign portal. To leave a comment, click HERE. The National Voter Registration Act grants the EAC the authority to require documentation to verify voter eligibility.
Action is also backing constitutional amendments in several states to limit voting to U.S. citizens only. The organisation has made stopping noncitizen voting a top priority in 2024 and is supporting legislation like the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
With the increasing number of noncitizens living in the U.S., and millions more having crossed the southern border under the Biden-Harris administration, the need for stricter voting regulations has become more pressing than ever. Action's campaign is a significant step towards ensuring that only eligible U.S. citizens can participate in federal elections, thus preserving the sanctity of the democratic process.
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