Texas Senate Bill 16 aims to require proof of citizenship for individuals registering to vote in state and local elections. Introduced by Senator Bryan Hughes (R), the bill addresses concerns about non-citizens mistakenly registered to vote, citing the removal of 6,500 non-citizens from voter rolls between 2021 and 2024. Hughes argues that the presence of non-citizens on voter rolls raises questions about the state's registration process.
“The presence of these voters on the voter rolls certainly raises questions about our voter registration process and how so many non-citizens were able to register,” Hughes said.
The bill proposes two primary methods for voter registration, at a Department of Public Safety (DPS) office when renewing or registering for a driver’s license, or via mail-in application. Around 85% of voters register through the DPS, and under SB 16, they would need to provide proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers. For the 15% who register by mail, applicants must attest to their citizenship and provide either their Texas driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. If election officials cannot verify citizenship, voters would be notified and given six days after the election to submit the necessary documentation. Failure to do so would result in a limited, federal-office-only ballot.
“Regardless of what system one uses to register to vote, proof of citizenship just makes sense,” said Hughes. “Looking at all the states, and the current law, and the current Supreme Court, we believe this is our best hope.”
The bill also makes it a state jail felony for non-citizens to intentionally register to vote, with such cases referring to the county attorney for investigation.
SB 16 follows a 2013 Supreme Court ruling, which stated that states cannot require proof of citizenship for federal elections but can do so for state and local elections.
Additionally, Hughes introduced SB 964, which would require the Department of Public Safety to issue distinguishable IDs for non-citizens. These IDs would be visually distinct, with the word “NONCITIZEN” clearly marked, helping election officials identify ineligible voters and encouraging non-citizens who later become citizens to update their status.
Both bills reflect Sen. Bryan Hughes' efforts to strengthen the voter registration process and ensure that only eligible voters participate in Texas elections.
