# Plain Language Summary: Ensuring American Voters Act of 2021

This bill would require anyone registering to vote in federal elections to show documentary proof of U.S. citizenship at the time they register. Currently, states have different rules about what documentation they require during voter registration. This bill would create a uniform federal requirement that applies to all states, meaning you couldn't register to vote in elections for president, Congress, or other federal offices without providing one of four specific documents: a birth certificate, a U.S. passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship.

The bill specifies that these documents must be provided when someone first applies to register, whether they're registering in person at a government office, by mail, online, or through any other method a state offers. You could submit a photocopy instead of the original document. The requirement would apply to all future voter registration applications submitted after the bill becomes law.

The practical effect would be that people who want to vote in federal elections would need to have one of these citizenship documents readily available before they can complete their registration. For many Americans, this might mean gathering paperwork before heading to register. For others who don't have easy access to these documents—such as elderly citizens born at home without a birth certificate on file, or people who've lost important documents—the requirement could create barriers to registration. Supporters argue this ensures only citizens vote in federal elections, while critics worry it could prevent eligible voters from registering if they have difficulty obtaining the required documents.

Ensuring American Voters Act of 2021

Gibbs, Bob

Ensuring American Voters Act of 2021 This bill prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in federal elections unless the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.