States Push Citizenship Proof Voting Laws

0:00You're listening to Global News Today, powered by the Daily News Now. Republicans in several states are moving forward with laws requiring proof of citizenship to vote fully, even as a similar federal bill stalls in the Senate. This week, South Dakota and Utah gave final approval to measures creating a two-tier system. Voters who show documents like a passport or birth certificate can vote in all elections, while those who don't are limited to federal races only. Meanwhile, Florida's bill passed one chamber, Missouri held a committee hearing, and Michigan supporters turned in 750,000, petition signatures for a ballot initiative. These state efforts build on Arizona's model, where voters without proof can only pick President, Senate, or House candidates. Federal law already bans non-citizens from voting, with penalties like jail and deportation, and people swear citizenship when registering. The backers say that's not secure enough, pointing to rare cases like a Chinese student charged with lying on a Michigan voter form last year.

1:03Supporters argue it builds trust in elections by catching small issues early. Paul Jacob from Americans for citizen voting says they want a reliable system. On the other side, voting rights groups warn it could block thousands of citizens without easy access to birth certificates or other papers. One Florida lawmaker shared how her aunt, born at home in segregated South Carolina, struggles to prove citizenship. Florida and Michigan plans differ by focusing on database checks first, flagging potential non-citizens from driver's licenses or federal records. Before asking for proof, Utah will even use immigration data to review current voters. These could affect new registrations before November's elections if governors sign them. Last attempt show hurdles ahead, with lawsuits common, Kansas blocked over 31,000 citizens before courts struck it down. New Hampshire and Louisiana face ongoing challenges, and while Wyoming's held up so far, experts expect legal fights that could delay or derail these.

2:04New laws. We'd like to thank our sponsor for making this episode possible. Soley Pillow is a pillow with built-in headphones, lay back, press play, and disappear into what you are listening to. Also L.I. Soleypillow.com