Republican Rand Paul is introducing an amendment to the Senate immigration reform bill that would bar undocumented immigrants from voting in federal elections until they obtain U.S. citizenship.
The proposed is being put out on the same day the Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law that required residents to prove their citizenship before voting.
Paul's "Secure the Vote" amendment is aimed a tackling voter fraud and ensures those on work visas or given status under the Senate bill are not allowed to vote in federal elections until they become citizens.
The amendment would also provide states with new procedures to check that those individuals are not illegally registered to vote.
"Not only would this amendment prevent voter fraud, it would also clear up the problem created by today’s Supreme Court decision," Paul said in a statement. "My amendment requires states to check citizenship before registering people to vote in federal elections."
In 7-2 majority opinion written by Justice Antonin Scalia, the court says the Motor Voter Act trumps the Arizona law because of its requirement that states accept federal voter registration forms.
The form requires individuals to swear under penalty of perjury that they are American citizens. Critics argue the decision opens the door to non-citizens voting in federal elections.
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