What is the SAVE Act and Why Did The House Pass It?
Does it prevent noncitizens from voting or disenfranchise potential voters?
April 10, 2025
3 Comments
Does it prevent noncitizens from voting or disenfranchise potential voters?
Talk about a difference of opinion.
“Requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections is a solution to voter fraud; which is why I co-sponsored the SAVE Act that just passed the House — despite the extremists who still vote against election integrity,” tweeted Rep. Scott Perry (R-10).
“Republicans’ SAVE Act would further suppress the vote. It’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote. This would disenfranchise millions—married women + trans folks who changed their name, service members, people with disabilities. We don’t need more barriers to the ballot box,” tweeted Rep. Summer Lee (D-12).
“This morning, the @HouseGOP passed the SAVE Act – a commonsense bill that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Only American citizens should vote in American elections. Period. Some states have systems in place that enable noncitizens to register. That’s unacceptable, and this bill will require states to establish a program to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls. A vote against the SAVE Act was a vote to allow noncitizens to vote—and a vote against the rights of American citizens,” tweeted Rep. Dan Meuser (R-09).
“The House has just passed one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history. The Senate must stop it,” said Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, in a statement. “The SAVE Act would put voting out of reach for millions of American citizens. It should not become law.”
Is one side right and the other wrong? Does the truth rest somewhere in the middle? First, let’s take a look at the SAVE Act – what it is and what it proposes to do.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. According to the Congressional Research Service, “the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship.
“Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is the prime sponsor and Perry was an original co-sponsor of the legislation. Other in the Pennsylvania delegation that signed on as co-sponsors include Meuser, Reps. John Joyce (R-13), Mike Kelly (R-16), Guy Reschenthaler (R-14) and Glenn Thompson (R-15). All 10 members of the Keystone State GOP delegation voted in favor of the legislation, while the entire Democratic delegation was in opposition. The bill was adopted by the House by a 220-208 vote.
Among the acceptable documents for demonstrating proof of citizenship are:
“Last year, the Brennan Center partnered with VoteRiders, the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland, and Public Wise to survey Americans about what identification they possess and what they know about voter ID laws in their state. We also asked respondents whether they had documents that prove their citizenship — a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers — readily available.
Our research indicates that more than nine (9) percent of American citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, don’t have proof of citizenship readily available. There are myriad reasons for this — the documents might be in the home of another family member or in a safety deposit box. And at least 3.8 million don’t have these documents at all, often because they were lost, destroyed, or stolen.
We also uncovered evidence of racial disparities in these numbers: while just over 8 percent of self-identified white American citizens don’t have citizenship documents readily available, that number is nearly 11 percent among Americans of color.”
The Campaign Legal Center says “People of color, married people who have changed their names, as well as young and elderly people are more likely to have difficulty in accessing these documents. For example, married people who have changed their name do not necessarily have a birth certificate with their current legal name on it.”
And the Center for American Progress wrote that “Because documentation would need to be presented in person, the legislation would, in practice, prevent Americans from being able to register to vote by mail; end voter registration drives nationwide; and eliminate online voter registration overnight—a service 42 states rely on. Americans would need to appear in person, with original documentation, to even simply update their voter registration information for a change of address or change in party affiliation. These impacts alone would set voter registration sophistication and technology back by decades and would be unworkable for millions of Americans, including more than 60 million people who live in rural areas.”
The Bipartisan Policy Center writes that “The SAVE Act requires significant changes to each step of the voter registration process: how voters register, how their identities are verified, and how list maintenance is performed on an ongoing basis. These changes would be costly and time consuming, taking months – if not years – to achieve. Despite the administrative difficulty of implementation, the SAVE Act prioritizes expediency over precision. The act becomes effective on the date of enactment, giving states no time to adjust processes. It also requires that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission offer implementation guidance to states within just 10 days of enactment.”
“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 in Washington, and throughout the country,” Roy said, thanking Cleta Mitchell, an attorney who helped President Trump challenge his 2020 election loss, for her work on the bill.
“Let me be perfectly clear: This is a non-issue. Non-citizens do not vote in US elections,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-05) in a statement. “Under federal law, noncitizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections and could face prison or deportation just for registering. Study after study shows that this is a non-issue. Instead, this bill will suppress the votes of eligible citizens and collectively cost American taxpayers and individuals billions because of the absurd new barriers it creates. And the consequences of this bill would be very real for Pennsylvanians. The SAVE Act assumes that voters have a version of REAL ID that proves citizenship. Only five states issue that type of REAL ID, and Pennsylvania is not one. So, PA driver licenses alone could no longer be used to register to vote.”
“This legislation makes it clear: only American citizens are allowed to vote in American elections, plain and simple. This is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Kelly. “In recent years, Democrat-led cities have allowed non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. American citizens — and only American citizens — should decide American elections.”
“The SAVE Act is a dangerous and unnecessary attack on voting rights that could block millions of eligible citizens from voting,” said Molly McGrath, director of the ACLU’s national democracy campaigns, in a statement. “We are already challenging President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order that seeks to impose similar restrictions through the Election Assistance Commission – an illegal overreach that threatens to upend our elections. This isn’t about protecting voters or our elections, it’s about politicians who want to protect themselves and pick and choose their voters. But that’s not how democracy works. The Senate must reject this bill and instead ensure that every eligible citizen can easily cast their ballot.”
“No one should have to pay to vote — but that’s exactly what this Act is doing by requiring documents that cost money and an enormous amount of time and effort to obtain. Make no mistake, this barrier would be a 21st-century poll tax designed to block people from having a say in the decisions that shape our lives,” said Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project.
“Today, the Republican-controlled House voted to pass the SAVE Act – a bill that, under the false guise of election integrity, would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the country,” said Voto Latino in statement. “This bill does nothing to improve election security. Let’s remember that both blue and red states have certified fair and free elections. What it does do is create unnecessary and burdensome hurdles for Americans trying to exercise their constitutional right to vote. It targets our communities – young Latinos, military service members abroad, married women who’ve changed their names, rural voters, and millions of Americans in ways that echo the disenfranchisement laws of the last century. The SAVE Act targets a multicultural America.”
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate where it faces stiff headwinds to overcome a likely Democratic filibuster in the chamber. The House passed a similar measure last July where it stalled. It would require seven Democrats to join the Republican majority to overcome the anticipated filibuster.
Talk about a difference of opinion.
“Requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections is a solution to voter fraud; which is why I co-sponsored the SAVE Act that just passed the House — despite the extremists who still vote against election integrity,” tweeted Rep. Scott Perry (R-10).
“Republicans’ SAVE Act would further suppress the vote. It’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote. This would disenfranchise millions—married women + trans folks who changed their name, service members, people with disabilities. We don’t need more barriers to the ballot box,” tweeted Rep. Summer Lee (D-12).
“This morning, the @HouseGOP passed the SAVE Act – a commonsense bill that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Only American citizens should vote in American elections. Period. Some states have systems in place that enable noncitizens to register. That’s unacceptable, and this bill will require states to establish a program to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls. A vote against the SAVE Act was a vote to allow noncitizens to vote—and a vote against the rights of American citizens,” tweeted Rep. Dan Meuser (R-09).
“The House has just passed one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history. The Senate must stop it,” said Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, in a statement. “The SAVE Act would put voting out of reach for millions of American citizens. It should not become law.”
Is one side right and the other wrong? Does the truth rest somewhere in the middle? First, let’s take a look at the SAVE Act – what it is and what it proposes to do.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. According to the Congressional Research Service, “the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship.
“Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is the prime sponsor and Perry was an original co-sponsor of the legislation. Other in the Pennsylvania delegation that signed on as co-sponsors include Meuser, Reps. John Joyce (R-13), Mike Kelly (R-16), Guy Reschenthaler (R-14) and Glenn Thompson (R-15). All 10 members of the Keystone State GOP delegation voted in favor of the legislation, while the entire Democratic delegation was in opposition. The bill was adopted by the House by a 220-208 vote.
Among the acceptable documents for demonstrating proof of citizenship are:
“Last year, the Brennan Center partnered with VoteRiders, the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland, and Public Wise to survey Americans about what identification they possess and what they know about voter ID laws in their state. We also asked respondents whether they had documents that prove their citizenship — a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers — readily available.
Our research indicates that more than nine (9) percent of American citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, don’t have proof of citizenship readily available. There are myriad reasons for this — the documents might be in the home of another family member or in a safety deposit box. And at least 3.8 million don’t have these documents at all, often because they were lost, destroyed, or stolen.
We also uncovered evidence of racial disparities in these numbers: while just over 8 percent of self-identified white American citizens don’t have citizenship documents readily available, that number is nearly 11 percent among Americans of color.”
The Campaign Legal Center says “People of color, married people who have changed their names, as well as young and elderly people are more likely to have difficulty in accessing these documents. For example, married people who have changed their name do not necessarily have a birth certificate with their current legal name on it.”
And the Center for American Progress wrote that “Because documentation would need to be presented in person, the legislation would, in practice, prevent Americans from being able to register to vote by mail; end voter registration drives nationwide; and eliminate online voter registration overnight—a service 42 states rely on. Americans would need to appear in person, with original documentation, to even simply update their voter registration information for a change of address or change in party affiliation. These impacts alone would set voter registration sophistication and technology back by decades and would be unworkable for millions of Americans, including more than 60 million people who live in rural areas.”
The Bipartisan Policy Center writes that “The SAVE Act requires significant changes to each step of the voter registration process: how voters register, how their identities are verified, and how list maintenance is performed on an ongoing basis. These changes would be costly and time consuming, taking months – if not years – to achieve. Despite the administrative difficulty of implementation, the SAVE Act prioritizes expediency over precision. The act becomes effective on the date of enactment, giving states no time to adjust processes. It also requires that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission offer implementation guidance to states within just 10 days of enactment.”
“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 in Washington, and throughout the country,” Roy said, thanking Cleta Mitchell, an attorney who helped President Trump challenge his 2020 election loss, for her work on the bill.
“Let me be perfectly clear: This is a non-issue. Non-citizens do not vote in US elections,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-05) in a statement. “Under federal law, noncitizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections and could face prison or deportation just for registering. Study after study shows that this is a non-issue. Instead, this bill will suppress the votes of eligible citizens and collectively cost American taxpayers and individuals billions because of the absurd new barriers it creates. And the consequences of this bill would be very real for Pennsylvanians. The SAVE Act assumes that voters have a version of REAL ID that proves citizenship. Only five states issue that type of REAL ID, and Pennsylvania is not one. So, PA driver licenses alone could no longer be used to register to vote.”
“This legislation makes it clear: only American citizens are allowed to vote in American elections, plain and simple. This is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Kelly. “In recent years, Democrat-led cities have allowed non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. American citizens — and only American citizens — should decide American elections.”
“The SAVE Act is a dangerous and unnecessary attack on voting rights that could block millions of eligible citizens from voting,” said Molly McGrath, director of the ACLU’s national democracy campaigns, in a statement. “We are already challenging President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order that seeks to impose similar restrictions through the Election Assistance Commission – an illegal overreach that threatens to upend our elections. This isn’t about protecting voters or our elections, it’s about politicians who want to protect themselves and pick and choose their voters. But that’s not how democracy works. The Senate must reject this bill and instead ensure that every eligible citizen can easily cast their ballot.”
“No one should have to pay to vote — but that’s exactly what this Act is doing by requiring documents that cost money and an enormous amount of time and effort to obtain. Make no mistake, this barrier would be a 21st-century poll tax designed to block people from having a say in the decisions that shape our lives,” said Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project.
“Today, the Republican-controlled House voted to pass the SAVE Act – a bill that, under the false guise of election integrity, would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the country,” said Voto Latino in statement. “This bill does nothing to improve election security. Let’s remember that both blue and red states have certified fair and free elections. What it does do is create unnecessary and burdensome hurdles for Americans trying to exercise their constitutional right to vote. It targets our communities – young Latinos, military service members abroad, married women who’ve changed their names, rural voters, and millions of Americans in ways that echo the disenfranchisement laws of the last century. The SAVE Act targets a multicultural America.”
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate where it faces stiff headwinds to overcome a likely Democratic filibuster in the chamber. The House passed a similar measure last July where it stalled. It would require seven Democrats to join the Republican majority to overcome the anticipated filibuster.
Talk about a difference of opinion.
“Requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections is a solution to voter fraud; which is why I co-sponsored the SAVE Act that just passed the House — despite the extremists who still vote against election integrity,” tweeted Rep. Scott Perry (R-10).
“Republicans’ SAVE Act would further suppress the vote. It’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote. This would disenfranchise millions—married women + trans folks who changed their name, service members, people with disabilities. We don’t need more barriers to the ballot box,” tweeted Rep. Summer Lee (D-12).
“This morning, the @HouseGOP passed the SAVE Act – a commonsense bill that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Only American citizens should vote in American elections. Period. Some states have systems in place that enable noncitizens to register. That’s unacceptable, and this bill will require states to establish a program to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls. A vote against the SAVE Act was a vote to allow noncitizens to vote—and a vote against the rights of American citizens,” tweeted Rep. Dan Meuser (R-09).
“The House has just passed one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history. The Senate must stop it,” said Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, in a statement. “The SAVE Act would put voting out of reach for millions of American citizens. It should not become law.”
Is one side right and the other wrong? Does the truth rest somewhere in the middle? First, let’s take a look at the SAVE Act – what it is and what it proposes to do.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. According to the Congressional Research Service, “the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship.
“Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is the prime sponsor and Perry was an original co-sponsor of the legislation. Other in the Pennsylvania delegation that signed on as co-sponsors include Meuser, Reps. John Joyce (R-13), Mike Kelly (R-16), Guy Reschenthaler (R-14) and Glenn Thompson (R-15). All 10 members of the Keystone State GOP delegation voted in favor of the legislation, while the entire Democratic delegation was in opposition. The bill was adopted by the House by a 220-208 vote.
Among the acceptable documents for demonstrating proof of citizenship are:
“Last year, the Brennan Center partnered with VoteRiders, the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland, and Public Wise to survey Americans about what identification they possess and what they know about voter ID laws in their state. We also asked respondents whether they had documents that prove their citizenship — a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers — readily available.
Our research indicates that more than nine (9) percent of American citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, don’t have proof of citizenship readily available. There are myriad reasons for this — the documents might be in the home of another family member or in a safety deposit box. And at least 3.8 million don’t have these documents at all, often because they were lost, destroyed, or stolen.
We also uncovered evidence of racial disparities in these numbers: while just over 8 percent of self-identified white American citizens don’t have citizenship documents readily available, that number is nearly 11 percent among Americans of color.”
The Campaign Legal Center says “People of color, married people who have changed their names, as well as young and elderly people are more likely to have difficulty in accessing these documents. For example, married people who have changed their name do not necessarily have a birth certificate with their current legal name on it.”
And the Center for American Progress wrote that “Because documentation would need to be presented in person, the legislation would, in practice, prevent Americans from being able to register to vote by mail; end voter registration drives nationwide; and eliminate online voter registration overnight—a service 42 states rely on. Americans would need to appear in person, with original documentation, to even simply update their voter registration information for a change of address or change in party affiliation. These impacts alone would set voter registration sophistication and technology back by decades and would be unworkable for millions of Americans, including more than 60 million people who live in rural areas.”
The Bipartisan Policy Center writes that “The SAVE Act requires significant changes to each step of the voter registration process: how voters register, how their identities are verified, and how list maintenance is performed on an ongoing basis. These changes would be costly and time consuming, taking months – if not years – to achieve. Despite the administrative difficulty of implementation, the SAVE Act prioritizes expediency over precision. The act becomes effective on the date of enactment, giving states no time to adjust processes. It also requires that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission offer implementation guidance to states within just 10 days of enactment.”
“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 in Washington, and throughout the country,” Roy said, thanking Cleta Mitchell, an attorney who helped President Trump challenge his 2020 election loss, for her work on the bill.
“Let me be perfectly clear: This is a non-issue. Non-citizens do not vote in US elections,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-05) in a statement. “Under federal law, noncitizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections and could face prison or deportation just for registering. Study after study shows that this is a non-issue. Instead, this bill will suppress the votes of eligible citizens and collectively cost American taxpayers and individuals billions because of the absurd new barriers it creates. And the consequences of this bill would be very real for Pennsylvanians. The SAVE Act assumes that voters have a version of REAL ID that proves citizenship. Only five states issue that type of REAL ID, and Pennsylvania is not one. So, PA driver licenses alone could no longer be used to register to vote.”
“This legislation makes it clear: only American citizens are allowed to vote in American elections, plain and simple. This is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Kelly. “In recent years, Democrat-led cities have allowed non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. American citizens — and only American citizens — should decide American elections.”
“The SAVE Act is a dangerous and unnecessary attack on voting rights that could block millions of eligible citizens from voting,” said Molly McGrath, director of the ACLU’s national democracy campaigns, in a statement. “We are already challenging President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order that seeks to impose similar restrictions through the Election Assistance Commission – an illegal overreach that threatens to upend our elections. This isn’t about protecting voters or our elections, it’s about politicians who want to protect themselves and pick and choose their voters. But that’s not how democracy works. The Senate must reject this bill and instead ensure that every eligible citizen can easily cast their ballot.”
“No one should have to pay to vote — but that’s exactly what this Act is doing by requiring documents that cost money and an enormous amount of time and effort to obtain. Make no mistake, this barrier would be a 21st-century poll tax designed to block people from having a say in the decisions that shape our lives,” said Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project.
“Today, the Republican-controlled House voted to pass the SAVE Act – a bill that, under the false guise of election integrity, would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the country,” said Voto Latino in statement. “This bill does nothing to improve election security. Let’s remember that both blue and red states have certified fair and free elections. What it does do is create unnecessary and burdensome hurdles for Americans trying to exercise their constitutional right to vote. It targets our communities – young Latinos, military service members abroad, married women who’ve changed their names, rural voters, and millions of Americans in ways that echo the disenfranchisement laws of the last century. The SAVE Act targets a multicultural America.”
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate where it faces stiff headwinds to overcome a likely Democratic filibuster in the chamber. The House passed a similar measure last July where it stalled. It would require seven Democrats to join the Republican majority to overcome the anticipated filibuster.
Talk about a difference of opinion.
“Requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections is a solution to voter fraud; which is why I co-sponsored the SAVE Act that just passed the House — despite the extremists who still vote against election integrity,” tweeted Rep. Scott Perry (R-10).
“Republicans’ SAVE Act would further suppress the vote. It’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote. This would disenfranchise millions—married women + trans folks who changed their name, service members, people with disabilities. We don’t need more barriers to the ballot box,” tweeted Rep. Summer Lee (D-12).
“This morning, the @HouseGOP passed the SAVE Act – a commonsense bill that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Only American citizens should vote in American elections. Period. Some states have systems in place that enable noncitizens to register. That’s unacceptable, and this bill will require states to establish a program to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls. A vote against the SAVE Act was a vote to allow noncitizens to vote—and a vote against the rights of American citizens,” tweeted Rep. Dan Meuser (R-09).
“The House has just passed one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history. The Senate must stop it,” said Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, in a statement. “The SAVE Act would put voting out of reach for millions of American citizens. It should not become law.”
Is one side right and the other wrong? Does the truth rest somewhere in the middle? First, let’s take a look at the SAVE Act – what it is and what it proposes to do.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. According to the Congressional Research Service, “the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship.
“Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is the prime sponsor and Perry was an original co-sponsor of the legislation. Other in the Pennsylvania delegation that signed on as co-sponsors include Meuser, Reps. John Joyce (R-13), Mike Kelly (R-16), Guy Reschenthaler (R-14) and Glenn Thompson (R-15). All 10 members of the Keystone State GOP delegation voted in favor of the legislation, while the entire Democratic delegation was in opposition. The bill was adopted by the House by a 220-208 vote.
Among the acceptable documents for demonstrating proof of citizenship are:
“Last year, the Brennan Center partnered with VoteRiders, the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland, and Public Wise to survey Americans about what identification they possess and what they know about voter ID laws in their state. We also asked respondents whether they had documents that prove their citizenship — a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers — readily available.
Our research indicates that more than nine (9) percent of American citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, don’t have proof of citizenship readily available. There are myriad reasons for this — the documents might be in the home of another family member or in a safety deposit box. And at least 3.8 million don’t have these documents at all, often because they were lost, destroyed, or stolen.
We also uncovered evidence of racial disparities in these numbers: while just over 8 percent of self-identified white American citizens don’t have citizenship documents readily available, that number is nearly 11 percent among Americans of color.”
The Campaign Legal Center says “People of color, married people who have changed their names, as well as young and elderly people are more likely to have difficulty in accessing these documents. For example, married people who have changed their name do not necessarily have a birth certificate with their current legal name on it.”
And the Center for American Progress wrote that “Because documentation would need to be presented in person, the legislation would, in practice, prevent Americans from being able to register to vote by mail; end voter registration drives nationwide; and eliminate online voter registration overnight—a service 42 states rely on. Americans would need to appear in person, with original documentation, to even simply update their voter registration information for a change of address or change in party affiliation. These impacts alone would set voter registration sophistication and technology back by decades and would be unworkable for millions of Americans, including more than 60 million people who live in rural areas.”
The Bipartisan Policy Center writes that “The SAVE Act requires significant changes to each step of the voter registration process: how voters register, how their identities are verified, and how list maintenance is performed on an ongoing basis. These changes would be costly and time consuming, taking months – if not years – to achieve. Despite the administrative difficulty of implementation, the SAVE Act prioritizes expediency over precision. The act becomes effective on the date of enactment, giving states no time to adjust processes. It also requires that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission offer implementation guidance to states within just 10 days of enactment.”
“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 in Washington, and throughout the country,” Roy said, thanking Cleta Mitchell, an attorney who helped President Trump challenge his 2020 election loss, for her work on the bill.
“Let me be perfectly clear: This is a non-issue. Non-citizens do not vote in US elections,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-05) in a statement. “Under federal law, noncitizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections and could face prison or deportation just for registering. Study after study shows that this is a non-issue. Instead, this bill will suppress the votes of eligible citizens and collectively cost American taxpayers and individuals billions because of the absurd new barriers it creates. And the consequences of this bill would be very real for Pennsylvanians. The SAVE Act assumes that voters have a version of REAL ID that proves citizenship. Only five states issue that type of REAL ID, and Pennsylvania is not one. So, PA driver licenses alone could no longer be used to register to vote.”
“This legislation makes it clear: only American citizens are allowed to vote in American elections, plain and simple. This is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Kelly. “In recent years, Democrat-led cities have allowed non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. American citizens — and only American citizens — should decide American elections.”
“The SAVE Act is a dangerous and unnecessary attack on voting rights that could block millions of eligible citizens from voting,” said Molly McGrath, director of the ACLU’s national democracy campaigns, in a statement. “We are already challenging President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order that seeks to impose similar restrictions through the Election Assistance Commission – an illegal overreach that threatens to upend our elections. This isn’t about protecting voters or our elections, it’s about politicians who want to protect themselves and pick and choose their voters. But that’s not how democracy works. The Senate must reject this bill and instead ensure that every eligible citizen can easily cast their ballot.”
“No one should have to pay to vote — but that’s exactly what this Act is doing by requiring documents that cost money and an enormous amount of time and effort to obtain. Make no mistake, this barrier would be a 21st-century poll tax designed to block people from having a say in the decisions that shape our lives,” said Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project.
“Today, the Republican-controlled House voted to pass the SAVE Act – a bill that, under the false guise of election integrity, would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the country,” said Voto Latino in statement. “This bill does nothing to improve election security. Let’s remember that both blue and red states have certified fair and free elections. What it does do is create unnecessary and burdensome hurdles for Americans trying to exercise their constitutional right to vote. It targets our communities – young Latinos, military service members abroad, married women who’ve changed their names, rural voters, and millions of Americans in ways that echo the disenfranchisement laws of the last century. The SAVE Act targets a multicultural America.”
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate where it faces stiff headwinds to overcome a likely Democratic filibuster in the chamber. The House passed a similar measure last July where it stalled. It would require seven Democrats to join the Republican majority to overcome the anticipated filibuster.
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