Written testimony in support of HB 228 from a proud U.S. citizen, immigrant and Army veteran

Top: Current GA.drivers license issued to foreign nationals. Bottom, Drivers license proposed in HB 228. The bill would also change state law to make non-citizen ID unacceptable as photo ID at the polls.

In her support for HB 228, our friend, YeSun copied us on her written testimony to the Republicans on the (House) Special Committee on Election Integrity in time for a hearing scheduled for Friday, Feb 26, 2021.

–>The (sub-committee) hearing is scheduled to begin when the full committee ends – the full committee will begin on adjournment of the day’s House session. The hearing is a result of public anger, input and constant pressure.

I paste the testimony below. It’s good reading.

I took the liberty of inserting a link to a 2014 report from ScienceDirect.com titled *”Do non-citizens vote in elections?”

Thanks, YeSun

dak

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ye Sun Wiltse <y

Subject: Written Testimony: I Support HB 228 Amend state law to make LIMITED TERM credentials unacceptable as proper identification for voter ID – Clearly label Non-Citizen DL/ID cards.

Date: February 25, 2021 at 9:16:05 PM EST

To: “rick.williams@house.ga.gov” <rick.williams@house.ga.gov>, “lynn.smith@house.ga.gov” <lynn.smith@house.ga.gov>, “bonnie.rich@house.ga.gov” <bonnie.rich@house.ga.gov>, “chuck.martin@house.ga.gov” <chuck.martin@house.ga.gov>, “jan.jones@house.ga.gov” <jan.jones@house.ga.gov>, “houston.gaines@house.ga.gov” <houston.gaines@house.ga.gov>, “buddy.deloach@house.ga.gov” <buddy.deloach@house.ga.gov>, “shaw.blackmon@house.ga.gov” <shaw.blackmon@house.ga.gov>, “alan.powell@house.ga.gov” <alan.powell@house.ga.gov>, “barry.fleming@house.ga.gov” <barry.fleming@house.ga.gov>

Cc: David Ralston <david.ralston@house.ga.gov>

Reply-To: Ye Sun Wiltse <ye

Dear Republican members of the Special Committee on Election Integrity,

As I live in Evans, I am unable to attend any hearing on HB 228. Please consider this my written testimony and make it part of the record.

HB 228 is a simple bill that changes our law to insure that official ID credentials issued to foreign nationals are unacceptable at our polls. The bill also requires driver’s licenses and ID Cards issued to non-citizens to clearly state, “BEARER NOT A U.S. CITIZEN – NOT VOTER ID.” These would be commonsense adjustments in normal times, but after the chaos of the November elections, it is critical that this committee and the legislature pass HR 228 and send it to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

If the goal of this committee is to improve voters confidence in the election system, this bill should see a unanimous “do pass” vote.

The opponents of HB 228 claim that there is no evidence of non-citizens registering to vote, therefore, this legislation is not needed. *There are many documented cases of non-citizens voting since passing Motor Voter Act that was implemented in 1995 according to Associated Press, NPR and the Pew Center. For every documented case, there are likely hundreds if not thousands of cases that go unreported.

When people apply for Georgia driver’s license, the DDS automatically attempts to register them to vote. DDS personnel lack knowledge to discern the voting eligibility of the person receiving driver’s license because that is not and should not be their responsibility. That responsibility belongs to board of elections registrar. There are non-citizens who do not realize that they were registered to vote at the time they received driver’s license. Once they are inadvertently registered, they can be targeted by organizations to vote or apply for absentee ballots, and sometimes vote illegally.

I have heard some legislators and activists who oppose any Voter ID laws say marking drivers licenses and ID cards to show the holder is not an American citizen is somehow “offensive to immigrants”.

From this immigrant who is a naturalized citizen and a retired Army veteran, I wholeheartedly support HB 228. I was not born in the USA, but I am grateful everyday that I had a good fortune to immigrate to this wonderful country that afforded me opportunities I would have never had in my native country. I respect the rule of law and treasure many freedoms I enjoy. I value my voting rights and am determined to prevent a fraudulent vote to cancel my legal vote.

HB 228 is the simplest and clearest legislations I have read. I respectfully urge this committee to pass HB 228. Georgians are counting on you rebuild our confidence in Georgia’s election system.

Sincerely,

YeSun Wiltse

Evans GA

706-***-****

The below reply and follow up was received from Rep Martin Dec. 5, 2023 at 8:00 AM.

The original request is here.

Mr. King,

To my reading and the reading of others with whom I have consulted, SB 379 via definitions, particularly in lines 19 – 33, requires the participant (“Apprentice”) and the employer (“Apprenticeship sponsor”) to be registered in Georgia and with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. Further, *a bulletin from the Office of Apprenticeship explains in part, “all individuals who are eligible to work in the U.S. are afforded an opportunity to participate and complete a RAP [registered apprenticeship program].”

Additionally, lines 52 – 55 outline employer application, providing another layer in assuring compliance with all applicable Georgia Law and Federal Law.

In sponsoring the legislation in the House in my role as Higher Education Chair, I relied on Senator Strickland’s statement that SB 379 stacks on underlying Georgia and Federal Law as outlined above.

Best Regards,

Rep. Chuck Martin.

Note: In my own reply to this response I asked Rep Martin for the title and date of the *U.S. DOL bulletin he cited and he was kind enough to send me this bulletin, (which I had already found and read). I am grateful to Rep Martin.