House Speaker Mike Johnson is responding to the demands of the more conservative faction of the Republican party and is preparing for a vote this week on a measure to fund the federal government for an additional six months. The proposal includes a requirement for states to demand proof of citizenship, like a birth certificate or passport, when registering individuals to vote.
The Congress must pass a temporary spending bill before the end of the fiscal year on September 30 to prevent a government shutdown just weeks before the upcoming presidential election. The decision to combine the citizenship verification requirement with government funding complicates the likelihood of successful passage, given that the bill is unlikely to progress in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
House Republicans, particularly those in more conservative groups like the House Freedom Caucus, support the voter registration measure. They argue that mandating proof of citizenship would safeguard U.S. elections for American citizens only, boosting confidence in the electoral system. However, critics suggest that the proposed documentation requirements could disenfranchise millions of individuals who lack immediate access to such documents when registering to vote.
Although Republicans are in favor of the bill, Democrats strongly oppose it and emphasize the need for bipartisan agreement on any continuing resolution. There is concern that moving forward with a partisan approach could increase the likelihood of a government shutdown, for which House Republicans would bear responsibility, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Appropriations Committee leader Patty Murray.
The issue of noncitizens voting has become a focal point for Republicans, especially with the recent surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have raised concerns about noncitizens being added to voter rolls by Democrats, despite evidence showing that noncitizen voting in federal elections is extremely rare.
With Congress resuming after a five-week recess, a short-term spending bill is essential as lawmakers have yet to finalize the annual spending bills required to keep government operations running for the upcoming fiscal year. The House has passed five of the necessary 12 spending bills, while the Senate has not passed any, opting for a more bipartisan approach in moving the bills through the Appropriations Committee. Republicans in the House are advancing bills with limited Democratic support, setting the stage for further negotiations and potential challenges in the coming weeks.
