Proof of Citizenship Requirements for Registration

Proof of citizenship laws require individuals to provide documents such as a passport or original birth certificate to be registered to vote. This is despite federal law already making it a crime for noncitizens to vote and requiring registrants to swear they are eligible under penalty of perjury. Proponents of these requirements claim these additional measures are necessary to prevent noncitizens from voting, even though repeated evidence shows the rates of noncitizens voting is extremely rare, and most often due to honest mistakes. In addition, existing safeguards already prevent ineligible individuals from voting. These laws disproportionately impact marginalized communities, create immense administrative and cost burdens on election officials, and disrupt current registration systems.