The House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on April 10. The bill requires applicants to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections. It passed with a 220-208 vote, with all Republicans and four Democrats supporting it.
Federal law currently does not require election officials to obtain formal proof of citizenship from those registering to vote. Instead, registrants attest their citizenship by checking a box on the registration form. The SAVE Act aims to change this system.
The bill mandates that states establish a process for removing noncitizens from voter lists and offer an alternative process for applicants to prove their citizenship. However, it does not specify what this alternative process would be. Critics argue that the bill is voter suppression and could disenfranchise many voters, especially women who have changed their last names upon marriage.
They also worry that election officials might struggle with the additional administrative duties. Proponents say the bill is necessary to ensure that only eligible citizens can vote. They dismiss concerns about voter disenfranchisement, noting that similar measures exist in other democracies.
The SAVE Act now faces the Senate, where it must secure at least 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.
Proof of citizenship requirements
This means it would need support from seven Democrats.
However, Democratic leaders have indicated their opposition to the bill. The debate centers on whether heightened proof-of-citizenship requirements are a prudent measure for election security or an undue burden on voters. It remains to be seen if the Senate will pass the bill in its current form or if changes will be made to address the concerns raised by critics.
An independent federal agency is proceeding with President Donald Trump’s sweeping elections directive despite numerous lawsuits challenging it. Trump’s order mandates the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to require eligible voters to show proof of citizenship when using a federal form to register or update registration information. The EAC communicated with state election officials on April 11, seeking their input on how they would implement Trump’s proof of citizenship requirement if the order is upheld.
This requirement could prevent millions of voters lacking citizenship documents from using the National Mail Voter Registration Form. Several voting rights organizations have urged the EAC not to comply with Trump’s directive, arguing that the president lacks the authority to direct its actions. Despite these contentions, the EAC is moving forward with the order.
The Trump administration contends that a preliminary injunction against the executive order is unnecessary because no measures have been implemented yet. However, the Democratic Party argued that the EAC’s letter to election officials is evidence of the order’s implementation. The EAC was designed by Congress to operate with minimal presidential control, ensuring an “independent entity” with partisan balance.
If the EAC proceeds with further directives from Trump, it could disrupt elections in numerous states, forcing lawmakers and election officials to rapidly adjust voting laws and administrative procedures.
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