Cross-posted at Project Vote’s blog, Voting Matters
Weekly Voting Rights News Update
By Erin Ferns
As multiple reports circulate, touting record breaking turnout this primary season, several state legislatures are introducing draconian bills that would block voters from even registering. Proof of citizenship requirements at registration are up for discussion in 11 states this legislative session. One from Kansas made provocative headlines this week, just days after another, Virginia’s HB 68, quietly died on the House floor.
Earlier this month, Project Vote reported a surge of voter turnout among typically underrepresented groups: young people and minorities, particularly Latinos. Monday, the Star-Telegram reported that “in Florida, more voters cast ballots than in any presidential primary since at least 1972. In California, New Jersey and other states, voter registration easily exceeded 2004 numbers. And in Iowa, home of 2008’s first caucus, officials saw a record turnout with about 130,000 more voters casting ballots than in 2000.” The Fort Worth, Texas publication triumphantly reported an increase of 465,000 Texan voters on the voting rolls since the last presidential primary, claiming the number “could increase because final tallies have not all be turned into the state. The deadline toregister was Feb. 4.” The Texas primary is on March 4.
By November, the same success in registering voters may not be the case for states like Kansas, one of 11 states to consider bills requiring voter applicants to provide documentary proof of citizenship this legislative session. “A proof-of-citizenship bill passed the Senate last year and is awaiting action in the House. The measure also would require Kansans to show a photo ID at the polls,” according to Associated Press reporter Carl Manning.
The bill, S 169, arises out of fear of non-citizens committing voter fraud. However, Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh said he had never “had anybody bring me proof [of fraud] where I can prosecute.” Further, the state’s chief election official “worries that if legislators make the requirements for registering too strict, they could suppress voter turnout. And some lawmakers wonder how big the problem really is,” Manning wrote.
In “The Politics of Voter Fraud,” Project Vote documents the rare occurrence of voter fraud as a result of voter registration fraud: “No amount of fraud in the registration process is acceptable, but the accusations that voter fraud ‘is breaking out all over’ as a result of ‘a coordinated effort by members of some organizations to rig the electoral system through voter registration fraud’ that put ‘thousands of fictional voters’ on the rolls are unsupported by any credible evidence anyone has been able to bring to bear. In fact, the suspicions about a vast ‘left-wing’ or ‘Liberal Democrat-sponsored’ conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud border on the paranoid.”
According to the report, between 2002 and 2005, 21 non-citizens committed voter registration fraud. Thirteen of these were convicted, four were dismissed, three were found guilty and one was acquitted.
Currently, Arizona is the only state that requires proof of citizenship at registration. Studies show that such legislation creates obstacles for new registrants. A 2006 Brennan Center for Justice survey found that 13 million individuals were without ready access to citizenship documentation, including birth certificate, passports and naturalization papers.
To date, we have identified and are monitoring seven of the 11 states (see below) where legislators have introduced proof of citizenship bills. To track these bills, visit Project Vote election bill tracking website, ElectionLegislation.org.
States Considering Proof-of-Citizenship Bills as of Feb. 21, 2008: GA, KS, MD, MI, MO, NY, OK, TN, UT, VA, WA
Quick Links
Resources:
GA H 43
Sponsor: Rep. Chuck Sims (R-169)GA H 1175
Sponsor: Rep. Roger Williams (R-4)KS H 2019
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Burgess (R-51)KS S 169
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Huelskamp (R-38)MD S 34
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Colburn (R-37)MI H 5337
Sponsor: Rep. David Law (R 39)MO H 1317
Sponsor: Rep. Cynthia L. Davis (R-19)NY S 6543
Sponsor: Sen John J. Flanagan (R-2)OK S 874
Sponsor: Sen. Clark Jolley (R-41)TN H 408, H 409
Sponsor: Rep. Curry Todd (R-95)TN H 3050, H 3052
Sponsor: Rep. Jason Mumpower (R-3)TN S 1610, S 1611
Sponsor: Sen. Mark S. Norris (R-32)TN S 2794, S 2810
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16)UT S 210
Sponsor: Sen. Mark Benson Madsen (R-13)VA H 68 (died)
Sponsors: Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-13)WA H 1468
Sponsors: Rep. Glenn Anderson (R-5 -02)WA S 6474
Sponsors: Sen. Mike Carrell (R-28)WA S 6862
Sponsors: Sen. Pam Roach (R-31)
Reports:“Citizens Without Proof.” Brennan Center. 2006.
“The Politics of Voter Fraud.” Project Vote. March 2007.
In Other News
“Young voters are expected to play a major role in the presidential election – and they want change.” More of this Houston Chronicle story here.
“The US Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing yesterday in Washington, DC, on older Americans and the significant barriers they face in exercising their right to vote.” More of this News Rx report here.
Erin Ferns is a Research and Policy Analyst with Project Vote’s Strategic Writing and Research Department (SWORD).
