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"It's our base's most widely used form of documentation," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "We didn't want to open any kind of discussion with Republicans about requiring voter ID unless it included death certificates. If they're not willing to consider granting us that request, then it's a no-go. How would our voters be expected to contribute to democracy if their death certificates aren't accepted as identification?"

Democrats stressed that including death certificates on the list of valid forms of identification was vital to any potential agreement on the issue. "This is about making sure our voters aren't disenfranchised," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. "While it's often challenging for our supporters to obtain drivers' licenses and other forms of official ID, we have millions and millions of registered Democrats who have valid death certificates. Their voices must continue to be heard."

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