CHESTER, PA — A new policy from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is drawing sharp criticism from voting rights advocates after the agency announced that only state and local election officials may register new citizens at naturalization ceremonies held in USCIS facilities. Nonpartisan organizations, including long-standing partners such as the League of Women Voters, are no longer permitted to provide voter registration services during the ceremonies.
“Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project, said the policy could create additional barriers for communities of color. “Third party, civil society organizations’ ability to do voter registration is crucial in a state like Pennsylvania that does not have true automatic or same day voter registration,” Kenner said.”