🚨 URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Comment by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!
AVERT VOTER SUPPRESSION
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is considering requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration — a dangerous barrier to voting rights.
Right-wing groups are flooding the comment line. We need to show up.
📣 Tell the EAC how this would harm you, your community, or voters you know.
Deadline: 11:59 PM ET, April 23
“Requiring documentary proof of citizenship would disenfranchise countless eligible voters, especially seniors, students, low-income, and Native voters who may not have access to these costly, hard-to-obtain IDs.”
“As a voter, this rule would create unnecessary hurdles for me and my community — voting is a right, not a privilege for the wealthy.”
“I oppose adding proof of citizenship requirements. It’s a thinly veiled attempt at voter suppression targeting vulnerable communities.”
“Our democracy works best when every eligible voter can participate. This proposal would silence too many voices.”
Instances of noncitizen voting are extremely rare. Audits and investigations in multiple states have uncovered very few cases, none of which have affected election outcomes. ABC NewsAP News
Claims of widespread noncitizen voting often stem from discredited studies. For example, a 2014 study suggesting significant noncitizen voting has been widely debunked by experts and fact-checkers. WikipediaSnopes
MORE INFO
1. Disenfranchisement of Voters
Requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote disenfranchises eligible voters, particularly those who do not have access to the required documents, such as passports.
Many eligible voters—especially low-income, elderly, and marginalized communities—may not possess or cannot easily access the documentation needed, such as passports or military IDs.
The proposed change disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants, and low-income individuals who are already underrepresented in the voter rolls.
Acquiring a passport is cost-prohibitive ($165 for first time applicants).
The time it takes to acquire a passport--up to 6 weeks in most instances.
Married women who changed their names are at greater risk of not being able to register on the federal form, as they are less likely to have the required documentation that includes their current name
2. Increased Barriers to Voter Registration
The new requirement creates unnecessary barriers to voter registration, which undermines the goal of increasing participation in democratic processes.
Access to basic citizenship documentation is already difficult for many people. By limiting the acceptable forms of proof, this proposal will exclude many from the process.
3. Contrary to the Intent of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)
The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) was designed to make voter registration more accessible, not more restrictive. The proposed rule change goes against the spirit of the NVRA, which seeks to reduce barriers to voting, particularly for underrepresented groups.
Adding additional documentation requirements runs counter to the principle of easy access to voter registration.
4. Potential for Increased Errors and Confusion
The change could lead to confusion among voters who already struggle to navigate the voter registration process.
The introduction of additional documentation requirements will likely result in rejected applications due to incorrect or incomplete documentation, further discouraging voter participation.
5. Lack of Clear Justification
The rule change is based on a misguided attempt to address voter fraud, a problem that is extremely rare. There is no significant evidence suggesting widespread voter fraud that justifies such an invasive and restrictive policy change.
Immigration Forum: Myths and Truths of Noncitizen VotingNational Immigration Forum
The intent of this rule change seems more focused on suppressing voter participation than addressing actual fraud.
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