Should America Require Proof of U.S. Citizenship to Vote?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections. Even though a federal law remains stuck in the Senate, eight states will have proof of citizenship on the ballot. States voting to stop noncitizens from voting are Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. 

The House last month passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, which would require that states obtain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship from someone before he or she may register to vote. The bill would amend the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, known as the “motor voter law.”

The Democrat-controlled Senate, however, is unlikely to take up the House bill.

In the states, the proposed constitutional amendment in effect would prevent local governments from expanding voting rights to noncitizens, as has occurred in California, Maryland, and Vermont.

“States can take action constitutionally to protect citizen voters,” Kerri Toloczko, executive director of the Election Integrity Network, told The Daily Signal.

“Opponents [of banning noncitizen voting] say it’s already illegal for foreign nationals to vote. It’s also illegal to steal a car,” Toloczko said. “There are so many loopholes in the National Voter Registration Act.”