DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowans getting new driver’s licenses over the last several years may have noticed a gold star added in the top right corner. Some Iowa lawmakers want citizenship status listed on new driver’s licenses going forward.

House Study Bill 37 would keep everything the same on a driver’s license or nonoperator identification card, but it would add the citizenship status on the back of the card.

The bill advanced out of a Iowa House Judiciary subcommittee on Wednesday evening after lawmakers heard comments and concerns from members of the public. The Republican State Representatives said the purpose for the citizenship status was to make it easier for poll workers to know who should and shouldn’t be voting.

“This designation or as such on a driver’s license would definitely help to identify people who are U.S. citizens because only U.S. citizens should be voting in U.S. elections,” said Lori Stiles, a poll worker.

This bill comes after the Iowa Secretary of State released a list of over 2,000 names dating back to the early 2000’s of legal noncitizens who registered to vote or had voted in the past. That list was handed out to precinct workers who were asked to challenge the individual to a provisional ballot.

Those in opposition weren’t opposed to what Republicans said the intent of the bill was for, but there was concerns about discrimination.

“I know that from with working with immigrant families in social services they are terrified there are tensions really high towards immigrants regardless of what their legal status is,” Storm O’Brink, a social services worker in opposition of the bill, said.

“To allow for discrimination when you put something like that when you put it on a driver’s license when people are using it to go buy a 6-pack of beer or to rent a car,” said Amy Campbell, a lobbyist representing Lutheran Services of Iowa, who is registered as undecided on the bill.

The bill made it out of the subcommittee and is eligible for consideration in front of the Iowa House Judiciary committee.

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