ATLANTA (Feb. 13, 2009) – Yesterday the Senate Ethics Committee passed Senate Bill 86 which amends Georgia’s voter registration codes to require proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote in Georgia. Under this bill, voter registration applications must be accompanied by satisfactory evidence of U.S. citizen ship.
“Elections are for qualified citizens. Non-residents and illegal aliens are not qualified to vote. This bill simply requires proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Opposition to this bill can only be attributed to those with ulterior motives,” said Ethics Chairman Eric Johnson.
“Satisfactory evidence” includes any of the following:
• a Georgia-issued driver’s license or identification card number, or a similar identification card from another state if the application for such an identification required satisfactory proof of U.S. citizenship;
• a copy of a birth certificate;
• U.S. passport;
• naturalization documents;
• other methods of proof established under the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986;
• Bureau of Indian Affairs, tribal treaty, or tribal enrollment card numbers; and
• any other method of proof established by the State Election Board.
The bill provides that anyone registered to vote in Georgia on December 31, 2009 will not be required to submit evidence of citizenship. The bill also stipulates that proof of voter registration from another state does not constitute satisfactory evidence of citizenship. New, college-age voters will not have additional requirements, restraints or complications. The Federal Government already requires these same standards for students who become of voting age.
This past November, Georgia was part of an investigation that found over 100,000 voters that appeared to have voted in more than one state. The report also stated Georgia had 42,000 voters that were registered in Florida as well as Georgia.
For more information on the Georgia State Senate, please visit www.senate.ga.gov.
Sen. Eric Johnson of the 1st Senate district serves as the chairman of the Ethics Committee. He represents Bryan County and portions of Chatham and Liberty counties. He may be reached at 404.656.5109 or via e-mail at eric.johnson@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 13, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
raegan.weber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028