Michigan, Minnesota Debate Citizenship Proof for Voting

Recent legislative efforts at both the federal and state levels, including the SAVE Act passed by the U.S. House and a proposed constitutional amendment in Michigan, would require voters to present proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a birth certificate or passport—when registering to vote. Proponents argue these measures are necessary to prevent noncitizens from voting and to maintain election integrity, especially in light of recent automatic voter registration laws and isolated cases of noncitizen voting. However, critics, including voting rights advocates and secretaries of state, warn that such requirements could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly women who have changed their last names, low-income individuals, and those without ready access to official documents. Concerns center on the significant number of Americans—especially married women and the homeless—who may not possess or have easy access to required documents, making the process burdensome and potentially excluding them from the electoral process. In Michigan, the elections panel has cleared the way for organizers to begin collecting signatures for the amendment, but critics highlight a lack of clear guidance for those whose legal names differ from their birth certificates. Despite the debate, studies have found extremely few instances of noncitizen voting, suggesting the measures may address a rare occurrence at the cost of broader voter participation.