AUSTIN — Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released How to Ensure That Only Citizens Vote, a new research paper by Chief National Initiatives Officer Chuck DeVore outlining how Texas can strengthen election integrity by ensuring that only eligible U.S. citizens vote in state and local elections.
The report recommends that Texas adopt a voter registration system modeled after Arizona’s, requiring documentary proof of citizenship for state voter registration while allowing voters who register under the federal form to participate in federal elections, consistent with federal law.
“Only U.S. citizens should vote in our elections,” said Chuck DeVore, Chief National Initiatives Officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and author of the report. “Documentary proof of citizenship and voter identification are essential safeguards to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in our elections. For state and local elections, Texas should strengthen these protections by creating a federal-only voter list.”
“Every legally cast vote deserves equal weight. When non-citizens appear on voter rolls, it undermines confidence that our elections are reserved for eligible U.S. citizens. Protecting that confidence is essential to preserving trust in our democratic process,” said Hannah Bruck, Campaign Director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.