Last week, Secure Families Initiative submitted a comment opposing the request to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from the America First Legal Foundation for a new rulemaking to consider changing the federal voter registration form to add a requirement for documentary proof of citizenship. America First Legal requested to change the current federal voter registration process to require Americans to produce the following additional documentation:
- A US Passport
- A State-Issued Real ID compliant drivers license indicating that the applicant is a citizen.
- A military ID
America First Legal’s petition unlawfully requested the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to impose burdensome barriers on military and overseas voters who are just trying to exercise their constitutional right to vote. This petition strives to fix a problem that doesn’t exist — while introducing new risks of disenfranchisement. Decades of advocacy has resulted in robust laws governing voter registration, identification, and the transmission of ballots to voters who are active-duty military and overseas citizens. Each state has a rigorous system of checks and balances that ensures only eligible U.S. citizens are voting. State Boards of Elections verify the identity and eligibility of voters by cross-referencing their information (like ID numbers, signature marching, etc.) against existing databases, well in advance before Election Day.
Generations of people throughout American history have fought to establish and preserve the right to vote for every American. Black Americans, Indigenous Americans, communities of color, and women especially have taken on this fight facing violence and at times death. Decades of advocacy has resulted in robust laws governing voter registration, identification, and the transmission of ballots to voters who are active-duty military and overseas citizens. This change would potentially disenfranchise millions of eligible U.S. citizens.
Read our full petition here: