Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Wants Voters To Prove Citizenship

October 21, 2025 – Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading a coalition of 14 state attorneys general in a push to reshape federal voter-registration rules by filing a joint comment with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The filing supports a rulemaking petition from the America First Legal Foundation (AFL) that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship on the federal voter‐registration form.

Paxton argues that the current system, which relies primarily on a voter’s self-attestation of citizenship, lacks sufficient protections to guard against ineligible registrations. The coalition’s comment urges the EAC to amend its regulations under the National Voter Registration Act so that states can verify citizenship and maintain accurate voter rolls.

In his statement, Paxton said: “It’s imperative that only eligible U.S. citizens are registering and voting in our elections … Every illegal vote dilutes the voice of law-abiding American citizens.” The comment also references Executive Order 14248 — issued earlier this year — which directs federal agencies to preserve the integrity of American elections.

The coalition argues that proof-of-citizenship requirements would not only enhance public confidence in electoral outcomes but also reduce administrative burdens on states tasked with cleaning up inaccurate or ineligible registrations. The rulemaking process now awaits the EAC’s response to the petition.