Citizenship proof for voter registration passes General Assembly

Voters would have to produce birth certificates, passports or other documents proving U.S. citizenship to register to vote under a bill that passed the General Assembly Friday. Supporters say the bill would prevent illegal immigrants from voting in Georgia and cut down on voter fraud.

Opponents say the measure amounts to a poll tax on poor Georgians who don’t have identification papers and would have to pay money to get them.

County voter registrars would be required to reject any voter registration application that does not include a birth certificate, passport, naturalization document, driver’s license or other document that proves U.S. citizenship, according to Senate Bill 86.

The measure will now go to the governor for approval.

Right now, all people registering to vote have to swear they are a citizen, but they don’t have to prove it with paperwork.

The new procedures would take effect Jan. 1, 2010. The requirements would not apply to anyone already registered to vote in Georgia before the end of this year, so long as they remain continuously on the voter rolls.