Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has introduced a significant new piece of legislation called the ‘District of Columbia Voter Identification Act.’
Greene hopes the Act will reinforce the integrity of elections in the District of Columbia and create a benchmark for election protocols across the United States.
“Only American citizens should be voting in American elections. That’s why I introduced the District of Columbia Voter Identification Act to safeguard election integrity,” Greene stated.
The bill, which emphasizes measures to increase transparency and security in the voting process, is poised to be folded into the American Confidence in Elections Act, a comprehensive election integrity package put forth by House Republicans.
The current D.C. voting system requires voters to prove their residence only once, during their initial vote.
Greene’s new Act will mandate the provision of a photo voter ID for both in-person and mail-in voting, going beyond simply cross-referencing names in the district’s poll books.
The District of Columbia Voter Identification Act lays out a variety of acceptable IDs.
These include driver’s licenses, passports, military IDs, student IDs, or the final four digits of a voter’s social security number.
“This will force the DC Board of Elections to ensure only American citizens vote in our nation’s capital,” said Greene.
The proposed Act also emphasizes the need for accessibility.
It asserts that D.C. will be obligated to provide a photo voter ID to voters who cannot afford one.
Greene’s bill also accounts for individuals who hold religious beliefs opposing photography, stating they will not be required to present a photo ID and will instead receive an alternate form of identification.
Among the Act’s key provisions is the creation of photo poll books for improved voter identity verification.
The D.C. government will have to procure voters’ photos for inclusion in these poll books from entities that possess eligible voter photos.
For voters without an existing photo, election officials will capture one at polling locations.
The use of these photos is strictly limited to the administration of D.C. elections.
The Act also enforces a citizenship requirement for voter registration, underlining Greene’s commitment to ensuring “only American citizens are casting ballots.”
This addition comes at a crucial time, following recent uncertainty expressed by the Executive Director for the D.C. Board of Elections, Monica Holman Evans, over the potential involvement of foreign actors in U.S. elections.
The introduction of the District of Columbia Voter Identification Act signifies a bold move to protect the sanctity of American elections, instigating robust measures to verify voter identities and confirm their citizenship status.
