Indiana’s New Proof of Citizenship Law Is Making Voting Harder for Naturalized Citizens

Indiana’s latest proof of citizenship law is causing chaos for naturalized voters, exposing a harsh reality: newly minted citizens are being targeted with needless barriers that risk shutting them out of the democratic process.

Daniela Torres’ husband became a U.S. citizen in 2023 after 25 years of living in the country. He voted in the 2024 election without issue—only to receive a baffling letter from the Marion County Election Board demanding proof of citizenship within 30 days if he wanted to continue voting. The letter lacked critical details like where or when to send documents, forcing the couple on a frustrating wild goose chase between agencies that barely knew what to do.

“It’s not fair that they keep making us jump through hoops to do it,” Torres said. “We don’t have any problem with complying but why make it hard?”

Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell didn’t mince words: “There is nothing else to call it but voter suppression.” Around 1,200 residents in the county got similar letters, a direct result of a hastily passed law last summer designed to appease baseless voter fraud conspiracy theorists.

Sweeney Bell emphasized that under her watch, there have been zero cases of voter fraud in Marion County. Yet, this law treats holders of temporary driver’s licenses—often naturalized citizens—with suspicion, forcing them into a one-time verification process that many find confusing and burdensome.

The Indiana Secretary of State’s office defended the law as a safeguard to ensure only U.S. citizens vote, noting that provisional ballots are available to anyone whose registration is questioned. But this technical assurance doesn’t address the real-world impact: hours-long bureaucratic hurdles, fear, and the risk that some new citizens won’t have the resources or knowledge to navigate the system.

Torres’ husband was so worried about repercussions that he asked to remain anonymous. His wife is standing up for him and others like him who have worked hard to earn their citizenship only to face suspicion and obstacles at the ballot box.

A lawsuit is now pending, with several organizations claiming the law violates the National Voter Registration Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This isn’t just an Indiana problem. It’s a snapshot of a broader, nationwide effort to restrict voting access under the guise of election security—a campaign built on debunked fraud claims and aimed at suppressing marginalized voters.

If you receive one of these confusing letters in Indiana, election officials urge you to contact your local county election commission and clerk’s office immediately. Your vote is your voice—and no one should make you jump through needless hoops to be heard.