The League of Women Voters of Illinois, stressing its mission of “empowering voters and defending democracy,” late last month issued an “All hands on deck” call for people to contact federal officials to reject additional Proof of Citizenship requirements to cast ballots.

“There is a new attempt to require burdensome documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections,” the nonpartisan organization said. “The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is considering a petition asking it to initiate a process that would add documentary proof of citizenship to the federal voter registration form. Much like the SAVE Act, this would force Americans to show specific, costly, hard-to-access documents like passports before registering to vote.

“An estimated 21 million Americans could be shut out from the ballot box, particularly rural voters, students, women, communities of color, and members of the military,” the LWV said.

Several voter advocacy groups have said requiring proof of citizenship to register in federal elections creates unnecessary barriers for eligible voters.

“It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote, and asking citizens to provide additional documentation is an obstacle that could disproportionately affect vulnerable groups like military families, people who have lost essential documents due to disasters or personal hardships (for whom this requirement only adds stress to an already difficult situation), and women who’ve changed their name due to marriage, who could face challenges proving their identity or citizenship in ways that aren’t fair or practical,” said Jessica Jones Capparell, LWV Illinois’ Director of Government Affairs.

“This isn’t just about systems,” she continued. “It’s about ensuring that all eligible Americans, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy. Voting is a fundamental right, and we should be working to make it as accessible as possible, not putting up more barriers.”