Michael BAYER
I fully support SSB 3045 and ask the subcommittee to advance the bill. Today, there is no verification of U.S. citizenship prior to registering a person to vote. It is strictly on an honor system that the applicant signs an affidavit on the voter registration application that they are a citizen. The Iowa Secretary of State has said repeatedly that we need to verify citizenship at the front end of the voter registration process and not rely on identifying noncitizens on our voter rolls later. Some people claim that registering to vote by noncitizens is already against the law. That is true, but it still happens. We have speed limit laws, but drivers still speed. That's why we enforce the law. The media has painted a picture that registering and voting by noncitizens is rare. That doesn't diminish the fact that every vote cast by an ineligible voter cancels the vote of a legitimate voter. The verification of citizenship should apply to all methods of application for voter registration. I.e., online voter registration, paper applications, registering while obtaining a driver's license, preregistration, election day registration, etc. This bill will affect how election day registrations are handled. If citizenship must be verified through the USCIS SAVE system, then the election day registrant must vote a provisional ballot. This is good thing because it eliminates a loophole for noncitizens to vote. I can't imagine there is a way for precinct election officials to access the SAVE system and verify citizenship. SF2081 and HF2164 would also require election day registrants to vote provisional. County Auditors can obtain direct access to SAVE through the MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND the county REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN THE SAVE PROGRAM FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTER LIST MAINTENANCE PURPOSE. See https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/brochures/SAVE%20MOA%20Voter%20Registration%20and%20List%20Maintenance%20Sample.pdf. I urge you to pass SSB 3045 out of subcommittee.Respectfully,Michael Bayer
Print
Permanent Link