Voter registration: proof of citizenship.

(1) Under the California Constitution, a United States citizen 18 years of age and resident in the state has the right to vote. Existing law establishes procedures regarding the registration of voters. A person may not be registered to vote except by affidavit of registration. A person is allowed to prove his or her citizenship by certification under penalty of perjury on the affidavit of registration. This bill would instead require a person to prove citizenship by presenting, or submitting a copy of, the person's birth certificate, United States passport, United States naturalization documents, documents or methods of proof established pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, or Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number. By increasing the duties of local elections officials regarding the registration of voters, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.