WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Jim Banks (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Congressmen Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Pat Fallon (TX-04), and a group of their colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, sent a bicameral comment letter in support of a petition filed with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission by the America First Legal Foundation to add a requirement of proof of U.S. citizenship to the National Mail Voter Registration Form. Currently the form only requires applicants self-attest to their citizenship, offering no meaningful safeguard against fraud. Excerpts of the letter are below, and the full letter can be found here.

The lawmakers wrote: “Requiring documentary proof of citizenship is a simple, common-sense reform. Just as Americans are asked to show identification for far less consequential activities—boarding an airplane, opening a bank account, or even attending certain events—it is entirely reasonable to require proof of citizenship to participate in our elections. This step would not burden eligible voters but would provide an essential check to ensure that only citizens are added to the voter rolls.”

“For these reasons, we respectfully urge the Commission to grant this petition and update federal regulations accordingly. Requiring documentary proof of citizenship will strengthen the integrity of our elections, safeguard the voices of American citizens, and ensure that every lawful vote is protected from being diluted by unlawful ballots,” they concluded.