“The Executive Order signed yesterday by President Trump, which includes requiring that voters who use the federal voter registration form provide documentary proof of citizenship, is a direct attack on our democratic principles,” said Lauren Kunis, CEO and Executive Director of VoteRiders.
“The Executive Order lacks legal authority, and its intent is clear: to block eligible US citizens from participating in our elections. This Executive Order is a solution in search of a problem that simply does not exist. Robust safeguards already ensure that only eligible US citizens participate in federal elections.
“Our organizers on the ground know that many citizens lack access to readily available documents proving citizenship, and that obtaining them can be costly and time-consuming. Our research confirms this experience: 21.3 million US citizens of voting age–or nearly 1 in 10 eligible voters nationwide–lack easy access to documents proving citizenship. Let’s be clear: documentary proof of citizenship requirements are barriers to democracy, not guardrails.”
