State Rep. Dave Agema wants new voters to prove U.S. citizenship when they register

mlive.com
By Jim Harger | The Grand Rapids Press
Updated: Thursday, December 15, 2011, 8:05 PM

LANSING – State Rep. Dave Agema has introduced a bill requiring persons to show proof of U.S citizenship when they register to vote.

"Under current law, someone registering in person to vote in our country is not required to show any proof of citizenship or any proof that he or she has a right to have a say in our elections," said Agema, R-Grandville.

If adopted into law, one of the following forms of identification would be required when registering to vote:

Driver’s license or personal identification card number;

Legible photocopy of a birth certificate;

U.S. passport;

Naturalization documents or number from certificate of naturalization;

Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number; and

Other documentation accepted in establishing proof of citizenship under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.


"This is an issue of security and accountability and I'm pleased that a number of my colleagues also see the need for this legislation and have signed on to co-sponsor this bill," said Agema, whose bill listed 30 co-sponsors.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Re-Districting and Elections.

E-mail Jim Harger: jharger@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JHHarger

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