Michigan House Considers New Voter ID Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register

GOP-Led Bill Would Require Documents to Prove Citizenship Status

LANSING — Michigan House Republicans are advancing legislation that would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. House Bill 4765, sponsored by state Rep. Jason Woolford, R-Howell, would modify Michigan election law to mandate that voter registration applications include citizenship documentation before being processed.

The bill would prohibit applicants from being registered until documentation is verified, requiring proof such as a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization documents.

"Michigan residents deserve to know their votes are protected and that our elections cannot be manipulated," Woolford said in a press release. "Requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID is a commonsense safeguard that protects every legal voter. If you are legally allowed to vote, these requirements should be easy and straightforward. But we cannot stand by while loopholes threaten the integrity of our elections."

The legislation passed out of the House Committee on Election Integrity and is now moving to the House floor for further consideration.

Concerns About Cost and Access

Michigan Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie raised concerns about the practical implications of the bill, particularly regarding the costs that voters might face to obtain acceptable identification.

"No eligible citizen should have to pay extra fees to exercise their constitutional voting rights," Edevbie said. "Michiganders deserve to have the facts. This bill is not about voter ID; it's a way to stop tens of thousands of eligible Michigan voters from casting their ballot."

Edevbie specifically noted that under the proposed law, a standard driver's license would no longer be an acceptable form of voter ID, which would force some voters to obtain an Enhanced Driver's License at additional cost.

Election Integrity Debate

The proposal comes amid heightened national debates over election security. President Donald Trump has advanced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act at the federal level, a bill that would impose similar proof-of-citizenship requirements and has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

GOP House Republicans frame the legislation as a necessary protection against election fraud and manipulation.

"Opposition to these protections is alarming. The only reason to fight voter ID laws or citizenship verification is to leave the system vulnerable to abuse," Woolford said. "Every vote must be legitimate, every ballot must be secure, and every Michigan voter must know their voice counts."

Next Steps

HB 4765 now moves to the House floor for consideration. The bill would require both voter registration verification and voter identification when casting ballots, marking a significant change to Michigan election law that has not been updated in many years.