Speaker Pro Tem Rachelle Smit on Thursday blasted radical House Democrats for legislatively killing key voter security provisions. The plan, House Joint Resolution B (HJR B), would have required proof of citizenship to vote in state elections. A Pew Research survey conducted last year found that 81% of respondents favor requiring people to show government-issued photo identification to vote.

“We provide proof of citizenship to get a new job, open a bank account, buy a house, run for office, and many other uncontroversial tasks,” said Smit, who serves as chair of the House Election Integrity Committee. “My husband and I had to prove our citizenship when we adopted our children. Never once, in any of these life experiences, did I feel disenfranchised. Yet, fear-mongering Democrats want us to believe that requiring proof of citizenship to vote will shut out millions. The requirement sure didn’t stop these Democrats from seeking elected office. Their presence in this chamber proves that providing these documents can’t possibly be that hard.”

HJR B would require first-time voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering. In-person voters would need to present a photo ID, and absentee voters would need to submit a copy of their photo ID or an identification number. In-person voters who do not present an ID would be allowed to cast a provisional ballot that would be counted if the voter returns to provide ID within six days after the election.

The resolution needed a two-thirds majority to pass the state House and Senate before ultimately going before being placed on the ballot in the next general election – giving the people final say over whether to amend the Michigan Constitution.

Last fall, a Chinese national allegedly voted in the U.S. presidential election in Michigan. The only reason he was caught is because he later asked for his ballot back. Last month, the Michigan Department of State announced it had found an additional 15 non-citizens who may have illegally voted in the 2024 election.

“How many more of these foreign nationals have voted in our elections without us ever knowing?” asked Smit, R-Martin. “How many American citizens have had their votes cancelled out by foreign actors invading our elections? Even one incident is inexcusable, which is exactly why we need these security guarantees in state law. Michigan residents won’t forget who stood up for our elections and who stepped aside and continued to allow foreign nationals to corrupt our system.”

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