Vermont H 671: An act relating to requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.671
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VT LEG #385989 v.1
H.671 1
Introduced by Representative Tagliavia of Corinth 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Elections; qualification and registration of voters; proof of U.S. 5
citizenship 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require 7
documented proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. It also requires that 8
the Secretary of State enter into a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. 9
Department of Homeland Security to access and utilize the Systematic Alien 10
Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program for the purposes of verifying 11
citizenship status during voter registration and for ongoing voter roll 12
maintenance. 13
An act relating to requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration 14
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 15
Sec. 1. 17 V.S.A. § 2121 is amended to read: 16
§ 2121. ELIGIBILITY OF VOTERS 17
(a) Any person may register to vote in the town of his or her the person’s 18
residence in any election held in a political subdivision of this State in which 19
he or she the person resides who, on election day: 20

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(1) is a citizen of the United States; 1
(2) is a resident of the State of Vermont; 2
(3) has taken the voter’s oath; and 3
(4) is 18 years of age or more. 4
(b) Any person meeting the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1)–(3) of this 5
section who will be 18 years of age on or before the date of a general election 6
may register and vote in the primary election immediately preceding that 7
general election. 8
(c) No person shall be permitted to register to vote or cast a ballot in any 9
election unless the person has provided documented proof of U.S. citizenship 10
in accordance with section 2145 of this title. 11
Sec. 2. 17 V.S.A. § 2145 is amended to read: 12
§ 2145. APPLICATION FORMS 13
(a) The voter registration application shall be in the form approved by the 14
Federal Election Commission or by the Secretary of State. The application 15
form approved by the Secretary shall include: 16
(1) A place for the applicant to swear or affirm, by checking the 17
appropriate box, that he or she the applicant meets all voter eligibility 18
requirements set forth in section 2121 of this title and a place for the signature 19
of the applicant affirming, under penalty of perjury, that all information 20

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submitted by the applicant is accurate and truthful. The affirmation shall 1
include the following information: 2
(A) The applicant’s place and date of birth. 3
(B) The applicant’s town of legal residence. 4
(C) The applicant’s street address or a description of the physical 5
location of the applicant’s residence. The description must contain sufficient 6
information so that the town clerk can determine whether the applicant is a 7
resident of the town. 8
(D)(1) If the applicant has been issued a current and valid driver’s 9
license or nondriver’s identification, the applicant’s driver’s license number or 10
nondriver’s identification number; 11
(2) If the applicant does not possess a driver’s license number, the 12
last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number; or 13
(3) If the applicant does not possess a Social Security number, the 14
town clerk shall contact the Secretary of State and the Secretary shall assign a 15
unique identifier for the applicant. 16
(E) The applicant’s email address, which shall be optional to provide. 17
(2) The voter’s oath. 18
(3) Space for the town clerk to document action on the application. 19

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(4) The following statements: 1
(A) “If you were provided with this application form by a voter 2
registration agency, you may decline to register. If you decline to register, 3
your failure to register will remain confidential and will be used only for voter 4
registration purposes.” 5
(B) “If you are submitting this application through a voter 6
registration agency, the office through which you submitted this application 7
will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes.” 8
(5) A requirement for documented proof of U.S. citizenship, which must 9
be submitted with the application and verified by the town clerk. Acceptable 10
forms of proof include: 11
(A) a U.S. birth certificate or equivalent; 12
(B) a valid U.S. passport; 13
(C) a U.S. certificate of naturalization or citizenship; or 14
(D) any other document issued by a government agency that verifies 15
U.S. citizenship. 16
(b) A town clerk shall record the proof of U.S. citizenship provided on the 17
application form and, where feasible, verify the applicant’s citizenship status 18
using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program 19
administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 20
* * * 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.67