Laurel Highlands Today

Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette) has reintroduced legislation in Pennsylvania requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. This move aligns with a recent executive order from President Donald Trump, which mandates states to enforce citizenship verification for federal election registration. Concurrently, Congress is advancing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE), which also requires proof of citizenship to register.

Warner expressed his support for the federal initiative, stating, "It is encouraging to see our national leaders prioritizing the security of our elections across the country, and I am pleased to be leading the charge here in the Commonwealth." He emphasized the importance of ensuring that only legal votes are counted to maintain electoral integrity.

Currently, both federal law and the Pennsylvania Constitution prohibit non-citizens from voting. However, Warner pointed out that not requiring tangible proof of citizenship during registration could allow non-citizens to register. He raised concerns about automatic voter registration programs in Pennsylvania, where eligible residents receive voter registration assistance when applying for driver’s licenses unless they choose to opt-out. With proposed legislation by House Democrats and the Shapiro administration aimed at providing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, Warner fears this could lead to unauthorized voter registration.

Warner cited instances from other states to justify his concerns. "These concerns are well-founded considering issues being experienced in other states," he said. He referenced Oregon's discovery of over 1,200 potential non-citizens registered through a similar program and Arizona's coding error affecting the citizenship status of around 100,000 registered voters. Warner asserted, "I, too, want to see every single eligible Pennsylvanian registered to vote and casting ballots in every election. But we must be thorough in protecting the rights of legal voters and the legitimacy of the ballots they cast."

The proposed legislation has been formally introduced and is pending referral to a House committee.