The League of Women Voters of Sioux City is lamenting a federal policy change that will no longer let non-partisan groups register new citizens to vote.
A Tuesday statement by the Sioux City chapter says that for years the local League of Women Voters of Sioux City has participated in Naturalization Ceremonies at the Federal Courthouse and Mary J Treglia Community House.
The release said “we have been proud to help the new citizens register to vote. There is now a new policy from US Citizenship and Immigration Services that will ban non-partisan groups such as LWV to help new citizens register to vote.”
In a separate statement, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, called on the USCIS to reverse the new policy. She said prior work by the league “has resulted in hundreds of thousands of new citizens registering to vote with League volunteers across the country.”
Stewart said such voter registration has ben carried out “in a proudly nonpartisan manner.”
She added, “By shutting out the League and other civic partners, USCIS is making it harder for new citizens to register to vote, which is yet another intimidation tactic and attack on the immigrant community. Our democracy is stronger with the voices of new citizens. “
