Cruz and Crane push citizenship-proof for federal elections

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Representative Eli Crane of Arizona are pressing federal regulators to require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections, seeking action ahead of the 2026 midterms. In an October 2025 push built around a bicameral letter, the lawmakers urge the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to amend federal rules and the National Mail Voter Registration Form so that applicants must submit evidence such as a U.S. birth certificate, passport, or naturalization certificate, rather than simply checking a box under penalty of perjury.

The petition that sparked the effort was filed earlier this year by the America First Legal Foundation. Cruz and Crane call the proposed change a “common-sense reform,” arguing it protects election integrity and prevents unlawful votes from diluting lawful ones. According to the lawmakers’ letter, requiring documentary proof of citizenship mirrors ID checks already standard for boarding a plane or opening a bank account. The EAC has not announced a decision as of October 23, 2025.

Support and Political Context

The campaign has drawn backing from a growing coalition of Republican lawmakers. Supporters in Congress include:

• Senators Ted Budd, Roger Marshall, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Cornyn, Marsha Blackburn, Ron Johnson, and Bernie Moreno
• A slate of House members supporting the change

The lawmakers say they want the EAC to act in time to update the federal form before voter registration activities ramp up for the next election cycle.

Policy Proposal and Federal Form Changes

Right now, federal law allows people to register to vote in federal elections by signing a statement that they are U.S. citizens, with no paper proof required. The change sought by Cruz and Crane would shift that to a documents-based system.

Under the proposal:

• Applicants would need to provide copies of evidence showing U.S. citizenship when submitting the national form for federal voter registration.
• The request directly targets the EAC’s rules and the content of the National Mail Voter Registration Form, a standardized form used across states for federal elections.

Supporters point to recent state-level reports flagging noncitizens on voter rolls in places like Texas and Iowa, and to ongoing efforts in Arizona to identify and remove ineligible registrations. They argue these incidents show gaps in the current honor system.

Opponents warn that documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements can cause eligible voters—such as seniors, rural residents, naturalized citizens, students, and low-income Americans—to face extra hurdles if they cannot quickly access records. That could lead to disenfranchisement or delays. While those concerns were not detailed in the lawmakers’ letter, they are likely to shape the regulatory debate if the EAC opens a public comment period.

Examples of acceptable proof (proposed)

• A U.S. passport
• A U.S. birth certificate
• A Certificate of Naturalization

Backers say clear document lists and multiple submission options (for example, secure uploads, mail, or in-person delivery) can reduce barriers. They also argue that most voters already have one of these documents. Critics respond that replacing a sworn statement with a documents requirement may slow registration workflows and strain election offices if verification steps are added close to deadlines.

The federal form sits at the center of this fight. If the EAC agrees to amend the form, states that rely on the national application for federal elections would have to adjust intake, communication, and storage procedures. The EAC’s official page for the form is available here: National Mail Voter Registration Form on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission website. Any change would appear on that page, including updated instructions describing the new requirement for documentary proof of citizenship.

Impact on Voters, States, and Timelines

Cruz and Crane want the EAC to adopt the change with enough lead time to take effect for 2026. That timeline matters because states use the national form differently: some accept it broadly, while others rely more on state-specific online or paper systems but must still meet federal standards for federal elections.

If the change were adopted mid-cycle, states would likely need to:

1. Update written instructions and websites
2. Train staff and volunteers on new document review steps
3. Adjust voter outreach to explain how to submit proof
4. Modify data systems to track receipt and verification of documents

For naturalized citizens, who may rely on their Certificate of Naturalization, the process would require careful handling to avoid document loss or privacy concerns. Election offices might need secure, encrypted submission channels and clear return-of-document routines.

For U.S.-born voters who do not have a passport, obtaining a birth certificate from a county or state office could take time and may carry a fee. That raises questions about deadlines and whether late-arriving documents could hold up timely voter registration.

Supporters argue these are manageable implementation steps and that the end result—keeping noncitizens from registering—outweighs the administrative lift. They note federal law already requires voters to be citizens; the change would simply require proof at registration. VisaVerge.com reports that the lawmakers’ letter frames the issue as preventing unlawful registrations without blocking eligible voters, emphasizing that proof-of-status checks are typical in many everyday processes.

Current Status and Possible Next Steps

As of now, the EAC has not adopted the proposal. The current rule remains in place: applicants attest to citizenship under penalty of perjury, with no documents required.

If the EAC starts a formal rulemaking, it would likely:

• Announce steps for public input and open a comment period
• Receive submissions from states, local election officials, advocacy groups, and the public addressing costs, privacy, workload, and alternatives such as systematic database checks
• Decide whether to update the form’s instructions, define acceptable documents, and set standards for how election offices receive and protect sensitive records
• Address multilingual access, since the national form is available in several languages

Important takeaway: nothing has changed yet. People planning to register for upcoming elections should still follow current state and federal instructions. If the EAC approves any change, voters would need to provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of federal registration—representing a nationwide shift affecting all applicants who use the federal form.

Cruz, Crane, and their allies have tied the push to reviews of rolls in Texas and Arizona, arguing even small numbers of noncitizen registrations can weaken trust in results. Their opponents, including many voting-rights groups in past debates, typically argue documented cases are rare and that added paperwork could keep eligible citizens from registering or voting on time.

The debate now rests with the EAC. The petition and the lawmakers’ letter ask the Commission to act before the 2026 cycle, but there is no set deadline for a final decision. For official updates, watch the EAC’s public notices and the page hosting the National Mail Voter Registration Form. If any change is announced, applicants will see new instructions spelling out the requirement to submit documentary proof of citizenship alongside their voter registration.