Jacob Grandstaff of Restoration News Media said April 17 that 'only American citizens should decide American elections.' The statement relates to congressional consideration of federal election security legislation following House approval of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act earlier this year.
The debate over voter eligibility has gained renewed attention as the Senate considers the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. Supporters say the bill would establish a uniform national standard for federal elections, requiring states to share voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security for citizenship verification and mandating documentary proof such as passports or birth certificates for federal registration along with photo identification at polling places, according to the House Republican Conference.
Grandstaff made his remarks in an opinion piece published by Restoration News, which operates as a project of Restoration of America focused on America First issues including election integrity and immigration policy. The commentary was issued in the context of Republican efforts to advance the legislation in the Senate following its House passage earlier this year. The piece includes a call to action directing readers to contact senators on the legislation, according to Restoration News.
A Pew Research Center poll found that 83 percent of Americans support requiring a photo ID to vote. Support for the requirement spans both major political parties with strong majorities in each group backing the measure. Additional national surveys have consistently shown similar levels of public backing for stricter voter eligibility verification at the federal level. These figures underscore broad consensus on basic election safeguards even as legislative debates continue, according to NBC News.
The United States stands out among most nations in not requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. The vast majority of countries worldwide mandate some form of citizenship verification before allowing participation in national votes. This international standard has prompted domestic calls for similar measures to align American practices with global norms on election administration. Cross-check programs with federal agencies represent one step toward closing existing gaps in state-level systems, according to Fox News.
Grandstaff said, 'The bedrock of self-government is simple—only citizens may vote. Requiring proof of citizenship to vote isn’t just about ensuring fair elections. It’s also a safeguard for self-government. This bill is the bare minimum required to preserve American democracy. It’s time to get this bill passed and deliver one of Republicans’ core promises to the American people—fair and transparent elections,' according to Restoration News.
