In America, voting is a right — not a privilege reserved for a few. But new laws in Indiana are putting up unfair barriers to that right, targeting naturalized citizens and threatening the very foundation of our democracy.

House Enrolled Acts 1264 and 1680, now enforced in Indiana, force certain U.S. citizens to prove their citizenship again just to register or remain registered to vote. These laws don’t apply to everyone — only to naturalized and derived citizens, many of whom are immigrants and people of color. Hoosiers born in the U.S. don’t face these same obstacles. That’s discrimination, plain and simple.

The laws rely on outdated and inaccurate data — including driver’s license records that don’t reflect someone’s current citizenship status — and force targeted voters to jump through needless hoops. If they can’t quickly find and submit specific documents like a passport or naturalization papers, they risk being purged from the voter rolls.

This isn’t about protecting elections — it’s about excluding people. Voting rights organizations across Indiana are sounding the alarm, saying these laws are already causing harm to people who’ve worked hard to become U.S. citizens. These are our neighbors, coworkers, and friends — and they deserve to vote just like anyone else.

We urge Secretary of State Diego Morales, the Indiana Election Division, and state lawmakers to immediately repeal these harmful laws and restore fair, equal access to voting for all Hoosiers. The right to vote should not depend on where you were born.

Our democracy only works when every eligible voice can be heard. Don’t let Indiana silence them.

Sign now to demand the repeal of HEA 1264 and HEA 1680 and protect equal voting rights for all citizens — no exceptions.

Photo: Alexandra Kukulka/Post-Tribune