Today, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced the District of Columbia Voter Identification Act, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at safeguarding the
integrity of elections in the District of Columbia. With the belief that every vote should be cast only by an eligible American citizen, Congresswoman Greene's bill sets forth measures to enhance transparency and security within the voting process. "Only American citizens should be voting in American elections. That's why I introduced the District of Columbia Voter Identification Act to safeguard election integrity by implementing mandatory photo voter ID and ensuring only American citizens are casting ballots by instituting a citizenship requirement for voter registration," stated Greene. "Not only will this force the DC Board of Elections to ensure only American citizens vote in our nation’s capital, this will set a standard and precedent for the rest of the country to follow.” This bill is set to be incorporated into the American Confidence in Elections Act, a comprehensive election integrity package proposed by House Republicans. Congresswoman Greene, House Administration Committee Chairman Brian Steil, and their Republican colleagues recognize the urgency of protecting the sanctity of our elections and are committed to passing this vital legislation.Under the current system in the District of Columbia, voters are only required to provide proof of residence the first time they vote. Once registered, D.C. election officials cross-reference names in the district's poll books, without the necessity of presenting a voter photo ID. However, Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution grants Congress complete control over D.C., including the power to establish election standards.
The District of Columbia Voter Identification Act implements a mandatory photo voter ID requirement for both in-person and mail-in voting. The bill outlines a range of permissible IDs, including a driver's license or any photo ID issued by D.C., a current U.S. passport, a current military photo ID, an ID issued by the federal or a tribal government, a student photo ID issued by a college or university, or the last four digits of a voter's social security number. Recognizing the importance of accessibility, the bill also stipulates that D.C. must provide a photo voter ID to voters who cannot afford one.
Furthermore, the bill acknowledges the rights of individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs who object to having their photo taken. Such voters will not be required to present a photo ID and will be provided with an alternate form of identification by the D.C. government.
One of the key provisions of the District of Columbia Voter Identification Act is the establishment of photo poll books, which facilitate additional verification of voters' identities. D.C. government entities possessing eligible voters' photos will be required to provide them to the D.C. chief election official for inclusion in poll books. Additionally, election officials shall capture photos of eligible voters at polling locations if a photo is not already available. These photos are strictly for the administration of D.C. elections and cannot be used for any other purpose.
In line with the bill's objective of preserving the integrity of American elections, the District of Columbia Voter Identification Act also introduces a citizenship requirement for voter registration. This critical provision ensures that only American citizens are participating in American elections, not illegals and not Chinese or other foreign diplomats. Just last month, Monica Holman Evans, Executive Director for the D.C. Board of Elections was unable to agree that we don’t want foreign actors meddling in our elections, which makes this provision of the bill extremely urgent and necessary. You can watch Ms. Evans’s testimony here.
READ THE LEGISLATION
Source: Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene
