The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a controversial bill that would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
The legislation, approved by a narrow margin of 220-208, is an effort to codify a key component of former President Donald Trump’s executive actions from his second term.
Sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), the bill amends the National Voter Registration Act, mandating that states require in-person documentation to verify the citizenship of individuals registering to vote.
Additionally, the bill proposes the creation of a program to remove undocumented immigrants from voter rolls and allows U.S. citizens to sue election officials who fail to enforce the new proof-of-citizenship requirements.
Supporters of the bill, including four Democrats who joined Republicans in backing the legislation, argue that it will protect the integrity of the election process by ensuring that only eligible voters are allowed to cast ballots.
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However, critics, including election officials and voting rights advocates, express concern that the bill could disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly those who may have difficulty accessing the necessary identification documents.
It is important to note that federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, and such instances are extremely rare.
Voters must swear under penalty of perjury that they are citizens when registering, and any ballots cast are subject to routine review.
Courts have previously blocked efforts by states to require documentary proof of citizenship for federal elections, with voting rights groups challenging such measures in court.
The bill’s fate is uncertain in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced a companion bill, and with the support of Senate Republicans, it remains to be seen if enough Democratic votes can be garnered to advance the bill to a final vote.
