Survey: Voter ID Proposals Could Exclude Detroiters

A University of Michigan and Outlier Media survey found that 27% of Detroit adults lack ready access to citizenship documents that are current and match their name, with difficulty especially concentrated among residents in households earning under $10,000 a year. The findings raise concerns about potential disenfranchisement as lawmakers propose additional proof-of-citizenship requirements; supporters say such rules could prevent noncitizens from voting, while opponents note that noncitizen voting is already criminalized and rare. California’s Proposition 39 would require government-issued ID for in-person voting, identification numbers on mail ballots, and efforts by officials to verify voters’ citizenship, with implementation costs projected to reach tens of millions of dollars or more annually. A separate Arizona measure would amend the state constitution to specify that only U.S. citizens may vote and to restrict foreign nationals’ election-related contributions.