The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is considering a petition asking it to initiate a process that would add documentary proof of citizenship to the federal voter registration form. Much like the SAVE Act, this proposal would force Americans to show specific, costly, hard-to-access documents like passports before registering to vote. An estimated 21 million Americans could be shut out from the ballot box.

It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote, and asking citizens to provide additional documentation is an obstacle that could disproportionately affect vulnerable groups like:

• Military families, who are often relocated, and for whom proving their citizenship can be complicated and burdensome.

• People who have lost essential documents due to disasters or personal hardships, for whom this requirement only adds stress to an already difficult situation.

• Women who’ve changed their name due to marriage, who could face challenges proving their identity or citizenship in ways that aren’t fair or practical.

This proposal is in the petition phase, which means that the EAC has not proposed a rule yet. That means this is a very important engagement opportunity, and all voices are critical to advocate against the addition of documentary proof of citizenship requirements to the federal voter registration form. 

Comments must be submitted by October 20 at midnight. Submit the comment as an individual, or you may submit anonymously. 

Go to the petition page on regulations.gov by clicking here.

COPY/PASTE THE SAMPLE TEXT IN THE NEXT BOX, OR WRITE YOUR OWN.

I’m against requiring citizens to submit a passport, birth certificate, or other citizenship documents to register to vote! Only half of American citizens have a passport, and 69 million American citizens don’t have a birth certificate with their current legal name on it.

It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. Requiring a document to prove American citizenship to register to vote in federal elections is unnecessary. State election officials have systems to verify an individual voter’s eligibility and ensure voter rolls are accurate. There are many communities of eligible voters who would be unnecessarily burdened by the requirement of documentary proof of citizenship. Among them are military voters, families who have been impacted by natural disasters may have lost necessary documentation, and Americans who have changed their name, like married women.