AMAC action backs petition to keep non-citizens off voter rolls

By Dan Burdish  

Nevada News and Views

When you walk into a polling place in Nevada, or anywhere else in America, you expect the people casting ballots to be U.S. citizens.

That’s supposed to be common sense.

But under current federal law, people can register to vote in federal elections without showing any actual proof that they are citizens. All they have to do is check a box and sign a form.

That’s why AMAC Action, the advocacy arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens, has stepped in to back a new petition from America First Legal.

The petition calls on the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to require documentary proof of citizenship before someone can register to vote in a federal election.

Why This Matters to Nevada

Nevada is a battleground state where elections are often decided by razor-thin margins.

In 2022, for example, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto won re-election by fewer than 8,000 votes statewide. In 2020, Joe Biden carried Nevada by about 33,000 votes, or less than 3 percent.

In a state that close, every ballot matters.

Requiring proof of citizenship, supporters argue, would help ensure that only eligible voters are added to the rolls.

For Nevadans who already show ID at the DMV, it seems like a fair expectation.

The AMAC Action Campaign

AMAC Action has launched what they’re calling an “EAC Comments Campaign.”

Through their online tool, citizens can easily submit comments to the EAC in support of America First Legal’s petition.

The link to take part is here: AMAC Action Campaign

The campaign will stay open until the federal comment period closes.

Andrew J. Mangione Jr., Senior Vice President of AMAC Action, has said the effort is about fairness and security.

“This is about making sure that the voices of lawful American citizens aren’t diluted,” he explained when launching the campaign.

Opponents Push Back

Critics, including progressive groups and some Democrats, argue that proof-of-citizenship rules could block legal voters who don’t have easy access to documents like passports or birth certificates.

They also claim that cases of non-citizens voting are rare.

But supporters respond that rare doesn’t mean nonexistent. In fact, cases have been uncovered across the country.

Earlier this year, officials in Ohio and Virginia confirmed that non-citizens were found on the voter rolls.

Closer to home, Nevada election officials have faced criticism for how they maintain voter lists.

A 2020 lawsuit revealed that Clark County mailed ballots to thousands of outdated or incorrect addresses.

“If we can’t even get the addresses right, how can we be sure only citizens are voting?” asked one Reno resident during a legislative hearing last year.

The Conservative Perspective

From a conservative point of view, proof of citizenship is a basic safeguard.

Just like you show ID to board a plane or even check out a library book, the same principle should apply when it comes to something as serious as voting.

In Nevada, where voter confidence has been shaky for years, this could be an important step toward restoring trust.

A 2022 Rasmussen poll found that 82 percent of likely voters nationwide support requiring proof of citizenship before registering to vote. That includes majorities across party lines.

What Happens Next

The EAC will review all the public comments before deciding on the petition.

If approved, states would be required to update their federal voter registration forms to include documentary proof of citizenship.

For Nevada voters who have long pushed for stronger election safeguards, this campaign represents a chance to make their voices heard.

As AMAC Action urges in its call to action: “Citizenship is the foundation of voting. Without it, the meaning of elections is lost.”

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Dan Burdish is the Chief Operations Officer for Citizen Outreach Foundation and Data Analyst for the Pigpen Project to clean up Nevada's voter rolls.