Proof of citizenship for voter registration, voter ID fails in Michigan

Michigan House Democrats killed a chance for voters to decide on a constitutional amendment that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and an ID at the polls.

The proposed amendment passed the House 58-48 on Thursday, with all Republicans voting yes and all Democrats voting no. To be placed on the ballot, it needed to pass with a two-thirds vote from the House and Senate.

It fell 16 votes short.

“This afternoon, I was saddened but not surprised to see the House Democrats prioritize politics over people,” said Rep. Bryan Posthumus, R-Rockford. "On a party-line vote, Michigan Democrats voted against a commonsense amendment to our state constitution that would prevent noncitizens from illegally voting – an issue that is supported by nearly 85% of our citizens."

The only other way to change the state’s constitution is for citizens to gather enough signatures for an amendment through a ballot initiative.

“We provide proof of citizenship to get a new job, open a bank account, buy a house, run for office, and many other uncontroversial tasks,” House Speaker Rachelle Smit, R-Martin, said in a statement. “My husband and I had to prove our citizenship when we adopted our children. Never once, in any of these life experiences, did I feel disenfranchised. Yet, fear-mongering Democrats want us to believe that requiring proof of citizenship to vote will shut out millions. The requirement sure didn’t stop these Democrats from seeking elected office. Their presence in this chamber proves that providing these documents can’t possibly be that hard.”

Similar legislation recently passed the U.S. House, requiring in-person voter registration for federal elections and requiring states to remove all noncitizens from voter rolls.

Under the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, people cannot register to vote with only their driver's license because REAL ID is available to noncitizens.

Democrats have called the legislation an act of voter suppression, saying that federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting and the SAVE Act will simply make it harder for veterans, the disabled, minorities, and women who change their last names to register to vote.

That bill sits in the U.S. Senate and needs at least seven Democrats to join with Republicans to pass.