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Senate advances SB 67 after extended debate on citizenship proof and logistics
Summary
Senators debated SB 67, a bill requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and certain ID when voting; supporters cited models upheld by courts, opponents raised concerns about mail‑in/door‑to‑door registration logistics, costs for obtaining documents, and county workload. The bill passed the roll call as read in the transcript (20 yes, 9 no).
Senate Bill 67, sponsored by Senator Madsen, would require prospective voters in Utah to demonstrate U.S. citizenship as a condition of voter registration and to present identification when voting. In floor remarks Madsen framed the bill as a measure to close perceived loopholes and said the draft draws on models used in other states and vetted under the Help America Vote Act framework.
During detailed questioning, senators pressed the sponsor on what documents would satisfy the requirement. Madsen listed acceptable documents including a photocopy of a driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate, tribal enrollment cards and documents authorized under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. He noted a coordination clause: a Utah driver’s license would count only if a separate state law requiring proof of citizenship for licenses passed.
Senators raised practical concerns: Senator McCoy asked how long it can take to obtain an out‑of‑state birth certificate (Madsen cited as much as 20 days in some states and fees of roughly $10–$20). Senators also discussed how door‑to‑door registration would be affected, how mail‑in registration would require an extra photocopied document, and whether county clerks would face an increased workload. Madsen cited a fiscal note of $13,200 and said he would ask county clerks to speak with the fiscal analyst before third reading to reassess potential impacts.
Several senators questioned the legality of photocopying some documents: Madsen acknowledged that photocopying a naturalization certificate may raise legal issues and pledged to look into the model’s approach before third reading.
Following debate and procedural votes, a roll call was read in the transcript indicating SB 67 received 20 yes votes and 9 no votes and was read for the third time.
