FRANKFORT, Kentucky – A Kentucky lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require a voter to be a U.S. citizen.
State Rep. Michael Meredith is the lead sponsor of House Bill 341, which he says is meant to secure the electoral process and uphold the principle of voting rights. The legislation would put the issue on the general election ballot to voters.
“This bill marks a crucial milestone in ensuring the integrity of our elections,” Meredith said. “If HB341 receives a two-thirds majority yes vote in the House and Senate, it will be presented on the ballot in November 2024 for Kentucky citizens to have their say."
The ballot measure would ask voters if they want to “prohibit persons who are not citizens of the United States from being allowed to vote in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” The actual wording that would be added to the state Constitution would say, “No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in this state.”
Earlier this week, West Virginia State Senate President Craig Blair introduced a similar resolution that also seeks a state constitutional amendment. And a Virginia General Assembly delegate has introduced legislation that would require Virginia residents to prove U.S. citizenship when registering to vote by providing a birth certificate, passport or naturalization documents.
Americans for Citizen Voting praised the Kentucky legislation, calling it a “groundbreaking initiative” and “a significant step toward preserving the integrity of Kentucky's electoral process.”
“As a representative of the people in Kentucky, I firmly believe in preserving the integrity of our democratic process,” Rep. Killian Timoney said. “Allowing only U.S. citizens to vote ensures that the voices heard in our elections truly reflect the interests and values of our community.
“It is a fundamental principle of our democracy to prioritize the rights and responsibilities of citizens, safeguarding the foundation upon which our great state stands."
During a January 25 hearing of the Kentucky House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Government Affairs, Meredith explained the reasoning behind the bill during discussion after another lawmaker express concerns about it.
“I think the intent was for just citizens to vote,” Meredith said. “This has been tested in other cities. New York, California and Maryland have allowed (non-citizens to vote) in school elections. They have held up. The language says allow citizens but does not specifically state non-citizens cannot.”
Meredith also said the cost to include the issue on the ballot would be “minimal to the state.”
