PRINCIPLE I :

Only US Citizens Should Participate in US Elections, in Any Manner

A. States Should Adopt Only Citizens Vote Constitutional Amendments


Sample Constitutional Amendment: Only a citizen of the United States shall be eligible to vote in any election held within this State.


B. Require Documentary Proof of Citizenship and Confirmation of Citizenship Status to Register to Vote

  1. Require physical documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for all voter registration applicants.  

    Acceptable documents for proof of US citizenship include:
  2. valid U.S. passport
  3. certified birth certificate
  4. consular report of birth abroad
  5. certificate of citizenship
  6. certificate of naturalization
  7. enhanced driver's license or other state or federal government identification denoting citizenship status

  8. Prohibit addition of any applicant to voter rolls until citizenship is verified (provisional registration only), require election officials to use state and federal government databases to confirm citizenship status prior to adding applicant(s) to voter rolls:
  9. Department of Homeland Security Systematic Alien Verification Eligibility (SAVE) database
  10. Social Security Administration (SSA) database, Help America Vote Verification (HAVV) system
  11. State drivers license agencies’ REAL ID records 
  12. Birth certificates / data from state vital statistics agency, amplified by data from the Electronic Verification of Vital Events (EVVE) program of the National Association of National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS)

  13. For online and mail applications to register to vote, all required documentation shall be required and information verified prior to adding applicant to voter rolls 

C. States Must Confirm Citizenship Status of Current Registered Voters; Compare Voter Rolls to State DMV / Other Data

  • Require state drivers’ license agencies to cooperate with election officials and to share citizenship data with election officials to compare voter rolls to drivers’ license agencies REAL ID data
  • Submission of entire state voter rolls to Department of Homeland Security /US Customs Immigration Services for comparison to the SAVE data system 
  • Utilize state and federal court records identifying prospective juror disqualification for non-citizenship
  • Use all available data sources for confirmation of citizenship status of all registered voters


D. States Must Confirm Citizenship Status for all new Voter Registrations with Social Security Administration per Help America Vote Verification (HAVV)


  • State should amend its agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Agencies (AAMVA) to require inclusion of citizenship verification as part of the HAVV verification process, in order to utilize Social Security Administration citizenship data 

  • Mandate state agreements with Social Security Administration for Death Master File access and citizenship checks, incorporating into voter roll maintenance procedures 


E. DHS Must Provide Data to States at No Cost to Confirm Citizenship Status for Any New Registration, Current Voter Lists, Upon Request (Federal Action)

  • Require DHS (via USCIS SAVE program) to provide citizenship verification data for new applicants and free batch uploads of existing voter rolls upon state or local election official request, at no cost to the states or local jurisdictions.


F. ID for Voting Must Clearly State CITIZEN on the ID; Only IDs Issued to US Citizens and State Residents Can Be Used for Registration and Voting


  • Mandate that any acceptable voter photo IDs (e.g., driver's licenses, state IDs, passports) clearly denote "CITIZEN" or equivalent on the face if used for voting or registration 
  • Restrict registration and voting IDs to those issued only to verified U.S. citizens and state residents, excluding non-citizen IDs 
  • Provide free state-issued "For Voting Only" photo IDs for applicants whose citizenship and residency have been confirmed 


G. Eliminate Voter Registration at Any Agency Other Than Election Offices and DMV

  1. Require voter registration to be conducted at election offices and DMVs only, eliminating other agencies from registering voters.
  2. Strict oversight of third-party registration drives to ensure no applicants are added to voter rolls until eligibility and citizenship status have been confirmed by election officials.
  3. Prohibit automatic registration and require voter registration forms to be retained in hard copy, signed by applicant (not digital). 


H. No Registrations Added to Voter Rolls Unless Confirmation of Identity, Residency and US Citizenship; States Must Confirm Missing ID for Residency, Identity, Citizenship or Remove from Rolls


  1. Prohibit adding any applicant to voter rolls without verification of identity, residency, and U.S. citizenship 
  2. Require audit of voter rolls and confirm missing documentation for existing registrants, with removal of registration if registrant is unable to verify information and verify the information in the voter registration application
  3. Implement provisional registration for incomplete applications, allowing voting only after full verification of identity, residency, citizenship and eligibility.


I. Federal (and State) Census Should Count and Confirm Citizen Population and Representation Should be Based on Citizen Population:  


Apportion Representation Among States and Base All Representative Districts (Local, State, Federal) on Citizenship Population Only

  1. State legislative resolution calling on Congress to restore the citizenship question to the decennial U.S. Census questionnaire and to publicly report citizen and non-citizen populations of each state.
  2. Each state should conduct its own census to determine U.S. citizen population of the state
  3. Apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives should be based on U.S. citizen population
  4. Adopt state requirements for congressional, state legislative, and all state/local districts to be based solely on U.S. citizen population 



J. Prohibit Foreign Money in Issue Campaigns and Elections, Directly or Indirectly, with Criminal Penalties for Violation

  1. Ban contributions, donations, or expenditures by foreign governments, nationals, or entities with >5% foreign ownership / revenue in any candidate, committee, ballot initiative, referendum, or election-related activity.
  2. Require certification under penalty of perjury that no foreign funds are used for any issue campaign, with civil penalties up to three times the amount or $500,000, and criminal penalties up to five years imprisonment.
  3. Declare any measure passed with prohibited foreign funds to be declared null and void.


K. Prohibit Foreign Ownership of Voting Equipment Companies and/or Election Related Systems, Prohibit Foreign Made or Ownership of Software or Parts Used in Voting Equipment


  1. Ban foreign ownership or control of companies manufacturing or producing voting equipment, software, or systems, including prohibitions on foreign-made parts or software 
  2. Require all election-related entities to certify no foreign involvement with the entity, in any manner with strict penalties for violations 
  3. Align with broader protections against foreign influence in election infrastructure, including requiring audits to ensure compliance.
  4. Require that all persons working in elections are US citizens, including permanent and temporary employees, contractors and vendors are US citizens only. 


Model Laws for Principle I: 

Only U.S. Citizens Participate in U.S. Elections


Participation in American elections is a core right of United States citizens, and state law must clearly reflect that only citizens may register, vote, or be counted for representation. This Principle provides Model Laws to ensure that citizenship is verified at registration, confirmed for existing voter rolls, clearly denoted on identification used for voting, and recognized in how representation is apportioned. Together, these models give states practical tools to safeguard the franchise for citizens while maintaining clear procedures, due process, and administrative accountability.


Index – Model Laws for Principle I: Only U.S. Citizens Participate in U.S. Elections

1. Citizens‑Only Voter Registration Act

Requires proof of United States citizenship and full eligibility checks at registration and before adding a voter to the rolls, using documentary evidence and database verification.


2. Citizenship Verification of Existing Voter Rolls Act

Directs election officials to verify the citizenship status of existing registered voters using state and federal data sources and to remove non‑citizens following notice and due‑process procedures.


3. Citizen‑Only Voter Identification Act

Requires that identification documents acceptable for voter registration and voting clearly denote United States citizenship and provides for free “for voting only” identification for eligible citizens without other acceptable ID.


4. Resolution on Citizen‑Based Representation and Census Citizenship Data

A model resolution urging Congress to restore the citizenship question to the decennial census, and to report citizen and non‑citizen population counts, and to base apportionment of and representation in the US House of Representatives on citizen population.


Model Law 1: Citizens‑Only Elections Act

Section 1. Short Title.


This Act may be cited as the "Citizens‑Only Elections Act."


Section 2. Participation in Elections Limited to United States Citizens.


(A) It shall be unlawful for any individual who is not a citizen of the United States to vote in any election held within this State, including any election for public office, party primary, or ballot measure at the state, county, municipal, school district, or other political subdivision level.

(B) Any willful violation of this section shall constitute election fraud and shall be punishable to the full extent of this State's election statutes.

(C) No charter, ordinance, home‑rule provision, or other local enactment may authorize voting in any election by individuals who are not United States citizens.


Section 3. Documentary Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration.


(A) As a condition of registration, each applicant shall provide physical documentary proof of United States citizenship.

(B) Acceptable documents for proof of United States citizenship include:

(1) A valid United States passport;

(2) A certified birth certificate;

(3) A consular report of birth abroad;

(4) A certificate of citizenship;

(5) A certificate of naturalization; or

(6) An enhanced driver's license or other state or federal government identification document that, by its terms, denotes United States citizenship status.

(C) An applicant shall not be added to the official voter registration list until citizenship has been verified. Pending verification, the applicant's record shall be maintained in a provisional registration status and shall not be eligible for issuance of a ballot.


Section 4. Verification of Citizenship Using State and Federal Databases.


(A) The [Chief Election Official] shall utilize available state and federal databases to confirm the citizenship status of applicants before adding any individual to the official voter registration list, including, as available:

(1) The United States Department of Homeland Security Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program;

(2) The Social Security Administration database accessed through the Help America Vote Verification (HAVV) system;

(3) State driver's license agency records, including REAL ID‑compliant records; and

(4) Birth‑record and vital‑statistics data maintained by the state and, where available, the Electronic Verification of Vital Events (EVVE) program of the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems.


(B) For online and mail voter registration, all required citizenship documentation shall be submitted, and the information verified under subsection (A), before the applicant is added to the official voter registration list.


Section 5. Rulemaking and Implementation.


(A) The [Chief Election Official] may promulgate rules necessary to implement this Act, including procedures for provisional registration, database queries, and notice to applicants whose citizenship cannot be verified.

(B) This Act shall be codified in [Title __, Chapter__ of the State Election Code]. Section [number] of [Title __, Chapter__] is amended or enacted to read consistent with this Act.

(C) This Act shall take effect on [date], and shall apply to all applications for voter registration submitted on or after that date.


Model Law 2: Citizenship Verification of Voter Rolls Act

Section 1. Short Title.


This Act may be cited as the "Citizenship Verification of Existing Voter Rolls Act."


Section 2. Verification of Citizenship for Existing Registrants.


(A) The [Chief Election Official] shall, on a recurring basis, verify the citizenship status of all individuals currently registered to vote in this State.

(B) For that purpose, the [Chief Election Official] shall compare the statewide voter registration list against available state and federal data sources, including:

(1) State driver's license agency records, including REAL ID‑compliant records;

(2) Databases maintained by the United States Department of Homeland Security, including the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, to the extent permitted by federal law;

(3) State and federal court records identifying individuals disqualified from jury service on the basis of non‑citizenship; and

(4) Any other state or federal data source lawfully available for confirmation of citizenship status.

(C) The [Chief Election Official] shall establish secure electronic data‑sharing agreements or memoranda of understanding with relevant agencies, including state driver's license agencies and federal agencies, to conduct the comparisons required by this section.


Section 3. Procedures Upon a Non‑Citizenship Indicator or Inability to Confirm Citizenship.


(A) If a comparison under Section 2 reasonably indicates that a registered voter may not be a United States citizen, the [Chief Election Official] or local election official shall:

(1) Provide written notice to the registrant at the address on file, stating the basis for the potential non‑citizenship finding;

(2) Provide the registrant a period of not less than [X] days to submit documentary proof of United States citizenship; and

(3) Treat the registrant as in a pending status during the notice period, without canceling the registration or denying a ballot solely on the basis of the initial data match.

(B) If the registrant fails to respond within the notice period, or fails to provide satisfactory documentation, the registration shall be canceled, and the official shall document the basis for removal in the voter registration records.

(C) If the registrant provides satisfactory documentary proof of United States citizenship, the registration shall be maintained in active status, and the election official shall update records as needed to reflect the confirmation.


Section 4. Use of Data and Safeguards.


(A) Data obtained under this Act shall be used solely for election‑administration purposes, including confirmation of voter eligibility and maintenance of accurate voter registration lists. 

(B) The [Chief Election Official] shall adopt procedures to protect the privacy and security of personal information accessed or shared under this Act, consistent with state and federal law.

(C ) Data obtained under this Act redacted for personal identifying information shall be made available for public inspection at no cost to a citizen of this state. 


Section 5. Implementation.


(A) The [Chief Election Official] shall complete an initial statewide verification of existing registered voters within [X] months of the effective date of this Act, and shall conduct verification at least once every [Y] years thereafter.

(B) The [Chief Election Official] may promulgate rules necessary to implement this Act.

© This Act shall be codified in [Title __, Chapter__ of the State Election Code], and any conflicting provision of law is repealed to the extent of the conflict.



Model Law 3: Citizen‑Only Voter Identification Act

Section 1. Short Title.


This Act may be cited as the "Citizen‑Only Voter Identification Act."


Section 2. Citizenship Designation on Voter Identification.


(A) Any identification document that is acceptable for voter registration or for casting a ballot under [Section ___ of the State Election Code] shall clearly denote, on its face, that the holder is a United States citizen if the document is issued to a citizen.

(B) The [State Driver's License Agency] and any other state agency that issues identification documents acceptable for voting shall, when issuing such documents to United States citizens, include a clear "CITIZEN" designation or equivalent language on the face of the document.


Section 3. Restriction of Acceptable Voter Identification to Citizens and Residents.


(A) Only identification documents issued to verified United States citizens and residents of this State may be accepted for purposes of voter registration or casting a ballot in any election.

(B) Identification documents issued to non‑citizens, including any licenses, permits, or identification cards marked or coded as non‑citizen documents, shall not be accepted for voter registration or voting purposes.


Section 4. Free "For Voting Only" Identification.


(A) The State shall provide, at no cost to the applicant, a state‑issued "For Voting Only" photo identification card to any eligible applicant who:

(1) Is a United States citizen;

(2) Is a resident of this State; and

(3) Lacks another acceptable form of voter identification.


(B) The [Chief Election Official], in coordination with the [State Driver's License Agency], shall establish procedures for issuing "For Voting Only" identification cards, including mobile or remote issuance options to serve voters who lack transportation or live in rural areas.


Section 5. Implementation.


(A) The [State Driver's License Agency] and other issuing agencies shall begin including the "CITIZEN" designation on newly issued and renewed identification documents used for voting no later than [date].

(B) Existing acceptable identification documents without a citizenship designation shall remain valid for voting until [sunset date], after which only documents meeting the requirements of this Act may be accepted.

(C) The [Chief Election Official] may adopt rules to implement this Act, including a public‑education campaign to inform voters of acceptable identification documents and the availability of free "For Voting Only" IDs.



Model Resolution 4: Resolution on Citizen‑Based Representation and Census Citizenship Data

A Resolution calling on Congress to restore the citizenship question to the decennial United States Census, to report citizen and non‑citizen population counts, and to base representation on citizen population.


WHEREAS, the United States Census Bureau's decennial enumeration is used to allocate seats in the United States House of Representatives and to draw federal, state, and local legislative districts; and


WHEREAS, current practice counts all persons, including non‑citizens, for purposes of apportionment, even though only United States citizens are eligible to vote in federal and most state and local elections; and


WHEREAS, Congress and the Census Bureau have, in prior decades, included questions on citizenship status in census instruments, and proposals are now pending in Congress to restore a citizenship question and to report citizenship data for apportionment purposes; and


WHEREAS, accurate, publicly reported data regarding the citizen and non‑citizen populations of each state will assist states in drawing fair and representative congressional, state legislative, and local districts;


NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of [State], that:


The Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to enact legislation requiring that each decennial census questionnaire include a question asking whether the respondent and each member of the respondent's household is a United States citizen, and that the Census Bureau publicly report citizen and non‑citizen population counts for each state, political subdivision, and census enumeration component.


The Legislature further urges the Congress to require that apportionment of seats in the United States House of Representatives and the districts for each State’s congressional districts be based on the United States citizen population of the state, rather than total population, and calls on Congress to take all lawful steps necessary to accomplish that objective.


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the [Secretary of State / Chief Clerk] shall transmit copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the members of this State's congressional delegation.



Principle 1 Appendix

Appendix B.1 – Only Citizens Participate in U.S. Elections in Any Manner

Key federal statutes and authorities

2025–2026 federal legislation support

Selected state statutes and models

Key court decisions

Reports and model resources

https://alec.org/model-policy/statement-of-principles-on-legislative-oversight/ 

  • Resolution to Restore Citizenship on United States Census.

https://alec.org/model-policy/resolution-to-include-citizenship-on-united-states-census/ 

  • Only Citizens Vote Model Policy

https://alec.org/model-policy/only-citizens-vote-model-policy/ 

  • Citizen Only Voting Amendment

https://alec.org/model-policy/citizen-only-voting-amendment/