Editorial written by The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board.
Voter registration booths manned by nonprofits are a staple of naturalization ceremonies in this country. It gives many freshly minted Americans a convenient opportunity to file the necessary paperwork to exercise their rights at the polls.
But the Trump White House is now telling these nonprofits that they’re not welcome. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently announced a new rule that bans nonprofits from registering new citizens at its facilities.
What a puzzling move. Naturalized citizens are highly motivated to vote, and we question the reasoning for taking away the ease of being able to register at their naturalization ceremonies. The U.S. government should actively encourage voting. It’s exactly what makes a democracy stronger.
Until recently, new Americans could register to vote at many federal sites, with the help of organizations like the League of Women Voters. Last year, before the presidential election, the nonprofit helped register new citizens at 1,919 naturalization ceremonies, a spokesperson told us. These events resulted in 90,474 voter registrations.
USCIS has argued that this policy “reduces administrative burden” and that new citizens can still access voter registration information from state and local election officials or online. It’s worth noting, however, that a handful of states, including Texas, don’t allow online voter registration. Voters need to mail a form or go to a county office in person during business hours.
Sadly, the new federal policy is in keeping with a growing hostility toward immigration, including legal immigration.
Widespread voting by noncitizens is a long-standing fiction, with plenty of inquiries and scant evidence. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has led some investigations but turned up little.
Nonprofits see this measure as an “intimidation tactic,” and others have said it will stifle civic participation. In any case, it is an extra hurdle.
The good news is that it likely won’t discourage new citizens from voting.
New Americans are eager to vote, polls have shown. In the last presidential election, 97% said they would definitely or probably vote, according to a survey by the National Partnership for New Americans.
Although they tend to be more Democratic than Republican, the same poll also shows the difference is not so stark. New Americans are as diverse ideologically as their countries of origin, and they are becoming increasingly important voting groups. One in 10 eligible voters is a naturalized citizen, according to a Pew Research analysis.
Not all ceremonies are held in USCIS offices; some are led by federal judges at other venues. The League of Women Voters has encouraged its members to host registration drives in nearby public spaces and comply with local rules.
As elections get closer, more permanent residents are expected to apply for citizenship, and larger venues will be needed. Last year, in Houston, a whopping 3,360 people from 121 countries took the oath to become U.S. citizens at NRG Arena.
Naturalization ceremonies are a celebration of what it means to be American. Registering to vote is a core civic duty that our government should champion.
