Rep. Sykes Issues Statement On Partisan Anti-Voter Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted against the House passage of H.R. 8281, House Republicans’ extreme, anti-voter legislation.
“It is already illegal under current law for noncitizens to register to vote and to vote in federal elections. This legislation does not do what it purports to and is a misleading attempt at voter security,” said Rep. Sykes. “I’ll keep fighting to ensure every eligible voter in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District can cast their ballots in free, fair, and secure elections.”
H.R. 8281 would amend the National Voter Registration Act to mandate states require Americans to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. These changes would prevent Americans from registering to vote with their drivers’ license alone, as REAL ID does not indicate citizenship and is available to noncitizen residents.
Under H.R. 8281, for the overwhelming majority of Americans, the only acceptable standalone form of identification for use in voter registration would be a passport (or passport card). A REAL ID drivers’ license, a Tribal ID, or a military ID would be unacceptable unless coupled with additional documentation, such as a birth certificate or an extract from a birth record that proves the applicant was born in the United States. This would be an extreme burden for countless Americans, including military voters, Native voters, people who have changed their names, including tens of millions of American women, seniors, college students, low-income people, and naturalized citizens.
As a member of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, Rep. Sykes is committed to ensuring every American, no matter where they live, has the freedom to vote in free, fair, and secure elections.