KS House Passes Kobach Citizenship Bill

The Kansas House has approved Secretary of

State Kris Kobach’s proposal to require first-time voters to prove

their U.S. citizenship starting June 15th.

The vote Wednesday was 72-51. The measure goes next to the

Senate.

Kansas already has the rule for people registering to vote for

the first time in the state, but it doesn’t take effect until

January 2013. Kobach wants the rule in place for the normal surge

of voter registrations ahead of this year’s presidential election.

Critics argue it will suppress voter turnout.

The House approved an earlier version of Kobach’s plan in

February, but the measure stalled in a Senate committee. Kobach’s

allies hope senators will vote on the latest version without

sending it to committee.