Voting Rights: Request for Public Comment by October 20

This request for comment comes from our partners at Arizona Faith Network’s Faithful Voter Committee.

A government board is gathering input on a new proposal that would suppress the vote, and they need to hear from you! This is a concrete action you can take, in just a couple of minutes, to help protect voting rights.

There is a movement afoot to pressure an independent government board — the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) — into enacting a new voter suppression policy.

The proposal 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 folks, students, women, and communities of color.

Right now, the EAC is taking public comments — from people like you — to gather input on whether they should adopt this anti-voter initiative. They need to hear from us about how damaging this policy would be before they make their decision. And it only takes a couple of minutes to make your voice heard.

Click here to leave your comment and speak out against this proposed barrier to the voter registration process. 

Your letter might read something like this — or personalize it (that helps!):

As a person of faith, I believe every voice is sacred and every vote is a reflection of our shared dignity and responsibility to one another. This proposed rule change would require Americans to present costly government documents, like passports, just to register to vote. While it’s being promoted as “election security,” it’s unnecessary—citizenship is already verified by law. In reality, this change would create new barriers for millions of eligible voters, especially those in rural areas, women who have changed their names, and working families who may not have easy access to these documents. Rather than strengthening our democracy, this rule would silence voices that deserve to be heard. I stand in faith and conscience against this proposal because protecting the right to vote is a moral duty and an act of justice.

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This rule change would require Americans to present specific, expensive government documents like passports to register to vote. It's being sold as "election security" but it’s a trick – citizenship is already required by law and an estimated 21 million citizens lack ready access to these documents. This only creates unnecessary barriers that will burden eligible voters, particularly from rural communities, women who've changed their last name, and working families. I oppose this rule change. It won't improve election security, it will only prevent eligible Americans from exercising their constitutional right to vote.

The proposal comes from an organization founded by a key figure behind some of the most extreme movements and harmful policies. Such groups have been mobilizing their supporters to leave comments in favor of their new proposed barrier to voter registration, hoping it will look like the American people are uniformly behind the policy — so those in opposition need to make their views clear. Every comment helps!

Tell the EAC not to require Americans to show costly documents before registering to vote — you can help protect democracy by making your voice heard right now.

We urge individuals and organizations to drive comments to oppose this before the October 20 due date. Thank you for taking a moment to defend the freedom to vote. We’ll keep monitoring voter suppression efforts like this one and updating you on the most effective ways to fight back.