HR627-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Verification Of The Electorate Act or the VOTE Act.

2. Prohibiting registration to vote of individuals who fail to provide proof of United States citizenship Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507) is amended— by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and by inserting after subsection (i) the following new subsection: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an individual may not register to vote in elections for Federal office held in the State unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof that the individual is a citizen of the United States. The chief State election official of a State shall, in consultation with the Election Assistance Commission, determine which documents an individual must provide to prove that the individual is a citizen of the United States for purposes of this paragraph. Paragraph (1) applies with respect to an individual who applies to register to vote under section 5, 6, or 7 (including an individual who submits the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9), or who applies under any other method of voter registration available in the State. An individual who violates this subsection shall be subject to the criminal penalty described in section 12(2). The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to applications for voter registration which are submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (j)Prohibiting registration of individuals not providing proof of United States citizenship (1)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an individual may not register to vote in elections for Federal office held in the State unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof that the individual is a citizen of the United States. The chief State election official of a State shall, in consultation with the Election Assistance Commission, determine which documents an individual must provide to prove that the individual is a citizen of the United States for purposes of this paragraph. (2)ApplicabilityParagraph (1) applies with respect to an individual who applies to register to vote under section 5, 6, or 7 (including an individual who submits the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9), or who applies under any other method of voter registration available in the State. (3)Application of criminal penaltyAn individual who violates this subsection shall be subject to the criminal penalty described in section 12(2)..