Indiana Voting Rights Groups Sue Over Laws Targeting Naturalized Citizens

Voting rights advocates, including the League of Women Voters of Indiana, Common Cause Indiana, Hoosier Asian American Power, and Exodus Refugee Immigration, have filed a federal lawsuit against Indiana election officials challenging two new state laws—House Enrolled Acts 1264 and 1680—that require certain voters, particularly naturalized and derived citizens, to provide documentary proof of citizenship. These laws, enforced since July 1, 2025, rely on data from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to cross-check voter rolls against temporary credential holders, a method critics argue uses stale and inaccurate data and unfairly burdens naturalized citizens while exempting U.S.-born citizens. The plaintiffs contend that these laws risk disenfranchising eligible voters by imposing redundant and unnecessary proof requirements not mandated by federal law, violating the National Voter Registration Act and the Civil Rights Act. The state has offered no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting, and the advocacy groups warn that these laws, passed under the guise of election security, could serve as a model for similar restrictive legislation in other states. The lawsuit seeks to halt enforcement of these laws and demands transparency regarding the number of affected Hoosiers. Overall, the case highlights ongoing tensions around voting rights and election integrity measures that disproportionately affect naturalized citizens.