Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
10/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/15/2024 10:09
Warner Bill Would Require Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote in PA
Oct. 15, 2024
HARRISBURG - Continuing his commitment to the sanctity of the state's elections, Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette) has introduced legislation that would require a person present proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in the Commonwealth.
"Free and fair elections are the backbone of our republic, and it is paramount we do all we can to protect our elections and secure the integrity of our election administration," Warner said. "This includes ensuring only qualified electors are registered to vote."
While both federal law and the Pennsylvania Constitution already prohibit non-citizens from voting, the failure to require tangible proof of citizenship at the time of registration creates a potential loophole for non-citizens seeking to register to vote. To address the issue, the U.S. House of Representatives approved its SAVE Act (H.R. 8281, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) earlier this summer, which similarly would require proof of citizenship in order to register. The measure is now pending consideration in the U.S. Senate.
"We have a responsibility to our citizens to ensure every vote cast is a legitimate, legal vote," Warner said. "If even one person votes illegally, it cancels out a legal voter's choice to lead our communities, state and nation."
One of the biggest concerns when it comes to non-citizens registering to vote illegally has to do with automatic voter registration programs that operate in dozens of states, including Pennsylvania. Under the Commonwealth's program, an eligible resident obtaining a driver's license or non-driver identification is automatically taken through the voter registration application process unless they opt out of doing so. With House Democrats and the Shapiro administration pushing legislation to provide driver license products to undocumented residents - who are not eligible to vote - there are real concerns about how the Commonwealth would prevent them from automatically registering.
"These concerns are well-founded considering issues being experienced in other states," Warner said.
Oregon recently announced it discovered more than 1,200 possible non-citizens were registered to vote through its Department of Motor Vehicles' automatic voter enrollment program. In Arizona, a coding oversight in state software is calling into question the citizenship status for as many as 100,000 registered voters.
"I, too, want to see every single eligible Pennsylvanian registered to vote and casting ballots in every election," Warner said. "But we must be thorough in protecting the rights of legal voters and the legitimacy of the ballots they cast."
House Bill 2629 has been referred to the House State Government Committee for consideration.
Representative Ryan Warner
52nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia Hippler
717.772.9846
[email protected]
RepWarner.com
"Free and fair elections are the backbone of our republic, and it is paramount we do all we can to protect our elections and secure the integrity of our election administration," Warner said. "This includes ensuring only qualified electors are registered to vote."
While both federal law and the Pennsylvania Constitution already prohibit non-citizens from voting, the failure to require tangible proof of citizenship at the time of registration creates a potential loophole for non-citizens seeking to register to vote. To address the issue, the U.S. House of Representatives approved its SAVE Act (H.R. 8281, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) earlier this summer, which similarly would require proof of citizenship in order to register. The measure is now pending consideration in the U.S. Senate.
"We have a responsibility to our citizens to ensure every vote cast is a legitimate, legal vote," Warner said. "If even one person votes illegally, it cancels out a legal voter's choice to lead our communities, state and nation."
One of the biggest concerns when it comes to non-citizens registering to vote illegally has to do with automatic voter registration programs that operate in dozens of states, including Pennsylvania. Under the Commonwealth's program, an eligible resident obtaining a driver's license or non-driver identification is automatically taken through the voter registration application process unless they opt out of doing so. With House Democrats and the Shapiro administration pushing legislation to provide driver license products to undocumented residents - who are not eligible to vote - there are real concerns about how the Commonwealth would prevent them from automatically registering.
"These concerns are well-founded considering issues being experienced in other states," Warner said.
Oregon recently announced it discovered more than 1,200 possible non-citizens were registered to vote through its Department of Motor Vehicles' automatic voter enrollment program. In Arizona, a coding oversight in state software is calling into question the citizenship status for as many as 100,000 registered voters.
"I, too, want to see every single eligible Pennsylvanian registered to vote and casting ballots in every election," Warner said. "But we must be thorough in protecting the rights of legal voters and the legitimacy of the ballots they cast."
House Bill 2629 has been referred to the House State Government Committee for consideration.
Representative Ryan Warner
52nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia Hippler
717.772.9846
[email protected]
RepWarner.com
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