U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other lawmakers in supporting a petition from the America First Legal Foundation that would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
A total of nine senators and twelve members of Congress signed a letter to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), urging the agency to approve the petition. The letter asks the EAC to change its regulations and the National Mail Voter Registration Form to require documentary evidence of U.S. citizenship from those registering to vote in federal elections.
The letter, led by Cruz and Representative Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), points to the EAC’s responsibility to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and to keep voter registration rolls accurate.
“Unfortunately, the current federal form falls short of that mandate. It relies solely on self-attestation of citizenship, allowing an applicant merely to check a box under penalty of perjury. This ‘honor system’ offers no meaningful safeguard against ineligible individuals registering to vote,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Requiring documentary proof of citizenship is a simple, common-sense reform. Just as Americans are asked to show identification for far less consequential activities—boarding an airplane, opening a bank account, or even attending certain events—it is entirely reasonable to require proof of citizenship to participate in our elections. This step would not burden eligible voters but would provide an essential check to ensure that only citizens are added to the voter rolls,” the lawmakers continued.
“Requiring documentary proof of citizenship will strengthen the integrity of our elections, safeguard the voices of American citizens, and ensure that every lawful vote is protected from being diluted by unlawful ballots,” they concluded.
Other senators who signed the letter include Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).
The America First Legal Foundation’s petition proposes that people seeking to register must verify their citizenship using documents such as a U.S. passport, Real ID, military ID, or another government-issued photo identification that confirms citizenship.
