Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) have teamed up to spearhead a letter demanding more stringent proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
As the Daily Wire explained, America First Legal recently filed a petition to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) calling for such documentary proof of citizenship, with Rep. Crane and Sen. Cruz writing a letter in support.
Self-attestation, which basically means saying, "yes, I am a citizen," under penalty of perjury, is currently the only requirement pertaining to citizenship in the current voter registration form.
"This 'honor system' offers no meaningful safeguard against ineligible individuals registering to vote," Rep. Crane and Sen. Cruz expressed. "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."
The Arizona Congressman further expressed that "in our constitutional republic, only American citizens should be able to vote, and requiring proof of citizenship at registration is a commonsense safeguard."
Crane echoed the sentiment about showing identification in other contexts, saying, "considering we already show ID to drive, fly, or open a bank account, this is not a novel concept. It's simply a necessary step to ensure the integrity of our elections."
In August, Crane cosponsored Representative Abe Hamadeh's (R-AZ) H.R. 2499, introduced in April, which would codify President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14248.
EO 14248 not only requires proof of citizenship but also connects federal election funding to state compliance with citizenship verification rules. It mandates that all ballots be received by Election Day and directs federal prosecutors to enforce voting violations and ballot deadlines, among other measures.
"Arizonans have witnessed poorly-run elections firsthand, and this legislation addresses key vulnerabilities," Crane shared on X. "We must have an efficient and trustworthy process."
