Bill Overview
Title: Citizen Ballot Protection Act
Description: This bill allows a state to include on its mail voter registration application form a requirement that the applicant provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
Sponsors: Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6]
Target Audience
Population: People applying for voter registration by mail in states that implement this requirement
Estimated Size: 135000000
- The bill requires proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration via mail.
- Individuals applying to register to vote by mail who lack immediate access to citizenship documents will be impacted.
- Non-citizens will be unable to register to vote through these mail voter registration forms.
- US citizens without ready access to proof of citizenship might experience hurdles in the registration process.
- The bill could impact the overall voter registration rates.
Reasoning
- Due to budgetary constraints, the policy will likely focus on states with high numbers of mail voter registrations and potentially higher occurrences of individuals without ready access to citizenship documents.
- The policy is estimated to impact certain demographics more than others, such as lower income individuals who may not have easy access to documentation, or highly mobile populations who may lose track of documentation.
- States may vary in implementation, and not all states may choose to adjust their registration forms to require proof of citizenship, further limiting the scope of potential impacts.
- Given the US population's diversity, there are numerous potential scenarios but only a small portion will face significant hurdles if proof of citizenship is required for mail registration. Thus, the impact will be medium to low on a large section of potentially affected individuals.
- Providing assistance or alternative means of verification (e.g., online databases) as part of the policy could alleviate some negative impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Texas)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel it could make things difficult for students like me who don't always have all their documents at hand.
- I believe it might complicate the well-intentioned registration processes for some.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Software Engineer (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I completed my citizenship and have the required documents, but not everyone is that organized.
- Policies like this risk alienating voters, reducing turnout.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 10 |
Freelance Designer (New York)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Keeping track of all my citizenship documents is already challenging.
- I'm concerned this could deter me from voting if it becomes too cumbersome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Arizona)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This new requirement could discourage me and others from voting by mail, especially those less tech-savvy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Construction Worker (Florida)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about my documents getting lost and having to acquire new ones.
- This makes me feel like my vote might not be counted if I can't register.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Nurse (Colorado)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a healthcare provider, I understand security needs but this could limit access for those most in need of a voice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Small Business Owner (Georgia)
Age: 51 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm okay with extra security, but the process should be made easier for busy families like mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Elementary School Teacher (Ohio)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Voting is foundational, and changes that complicate registration feel like barriers, not improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 10 |
Veteran Affairs Coordinator (Nebraska)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Veterans have given so much for these rights; any measure should enhance access, not deter it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Non-Profit Director (Pennsylvania)
Age: 54 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry how quick state regulations can change and disenfranchise many without notice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Key Considerations
- Federal mandates ensure voter registration processes comply with the National Voter Registration Act, which could interact with this policy.
- The proof of citizenship requirement may lead to legal challenges, affecting state resources.
- Variations in state implementations might result in uneven administrative costs across states.