The U.S. House of Representatives, for the second time, has passed a bill that would mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections, along with stricter voter roll purge requirements for states. The legislation, known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, passed with a 220-208 vote.
While current law already prohibits non-U.S. citizens from voting in federal elections, proponents of the bill argue it’s necessary to prevent potential voter fraud. However, critics contend that the legislation will disproportionately suppress voter turnout.
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Four Democrats – Reps. Ed Case (Hawaii), Henry Cuellar (Texas), Jared Golden (Maine), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.) – crossed party lines to vote with Republicans in favor of the bill.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a key sponsor of the legislation, defended it on the House floor, stating, “There is nothing more sacred under the Constitution than ensuring that the people are able to have the voice in the election of the people that represent them… This legislation is designed to restore that faith, to save our elections, to save election integrity.” Roy also acknowledged the work of Cleta Mitchell, an attorney who aided President Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
Democrats, however, strongly oppose the bill, arguing that it will create unnecessary barriers to voting. Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) warned that the bill would impose a “paperwork nightmare” on Americans, particularly impacting senior citizens and women.
“Republicans would force Americans into a paperwork nightmare, burying voter registration under a mountain of bureaucracy and red tape,” Morelle said.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who co-sponsored the bill, cheered the passage on Thursday, saying on X, “If you are not a US citizen, then you SHOULD NOT be voting in US elections. It’s that simple. I’m proud to have championed and co-sponsored “The SAVE Act” last Congress and this Congress.”
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