Backlogs have been a fairly common thing in recent times when it comes to applications for U.S. citizenship. We covered this trend in a previous post. Among the things such backlogs could have caused for an immigrant is for them to have not been able to be officially naturalized prior to the voter registration deadline in the state they live in passing.
Now, those who have had this happen to them here in California may not be out of luck when it comes to being able to vote in the upcoming election. While the voter registration deadline went by a week ago in the state, state law makes it so California residents who were not naturalized prior to this deadline but who do become a U.S. citizen in time for election day are still eligible to register and vote in the state. This law has been in place since 2012.
Now, there are certain requirements a newly minted citizen has to follow to vote under this California law. One is that they have to vote at a county election office. Another is that they have to present documents proving their citizenship in order to be allowed to vote.
As this underscores, documentation matters can be very impactful ones for individuals who have just become a U.S. citizen. Having the right documentation can be key in being able to fully exercise one’s rights as a new citizen.
Documentation issues can also play a significant role when a person is applying for U.S. citizenship. In some cases, how such issues are handled could be the difference between the application process going smoothly and the application hitting roadblocks. Immigration attorneys can assist individuals seeking to become a U.S. citizen with handling documentation issues and other important matters related to the naturalization process.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “California’s voter registration deadline has passed, but not for new U.S. citizens,” Sophia Bollag, Oct. 27, 2016