Senate amendment would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register

A Senate amendment to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 would make documentary proof of U.S. citizenship a front-end requirement for registering to vote in federal elections. The proposal would also require states to verify applications against federal information systems and remove noncitizens from the rolls when they receive documentation or verified information that someone is not a U.S. citizen.

For voters, the change is simple and sharp: registration would no longer begin with an application alone. It would begin with paperwork that proves citizenship, turning a back-end check into a front-door test.

Which papers would count

The amendment defines documentary proof of citizenship to include a REAL ID Act-compliant form of identification that shows the applicant is a U.S. citizen, a valid U.S. passport, and certain military identification paired with a military record showing U.S. birth or citizenship. It also points to other government-issued and vital-records documents.

Lee's proposal would require states to accept some alternative evidence when a name does not match current records, notify mail applicants and others covered by the rule about the proof requirement, and make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. For people who have changed names, lack a passport, or do not keep citizenship papers close at hand, that extra document check would become part of the path to the voter rolls.