As Congress reconvenes on Capitol Hill, all eyes are on the House of Representatives, where a pivotal vote is scheduled on the contentious Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Introduced by House Republicans, this bill seeks to mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for all federal elections in an effort to prevent noncitizens from voting.
Under the current National Voter Registration Act, individuals attest to their citizenship by checking a box on registration forms. However, the SAVE Act proposes significant changes, requiring prospective voters to furnish documentation proving their citizenship. Accepted forms of proof include a U.S. passport, a photo ID card issued with proof of citizenship, or a combination of a photo ID and supporting documents like a birth certificate.
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For those lacking these documents, states would gain access to federal agency databases to verify citizenship status for voter registration purposes, according to the text of the bill. The bill also includes provisions to remove noncitizens from voter rolls and grants discretion to the Department of Homeland Security to deport noncitizens found to have illegally registered to vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has vigorously advocated for the SAVE Act, emphasizing its role in closing loopholes that allow noncitizen voting, enhancing election security and bolstering public trust in the electoral process. In a detailed plea to House members, Johnson underscored the necessity of passing the bill to safeguard American elections against foreign interference.
The SAVE Act has sparked intense debate along party lines. Democratic leaders who oppose the bill argue that it imposes undue burdens on various groups, including military personnel, Native Americans, naturalized citizens and elderly voters who may face challenges in acquiring the required documentation.
In a whip question, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., criticized the bill as placing an “extreme burden” on millions of Americans, potentially disenfranchising vulnerable populations.
This vote follows a previous House decision in May, where a similar measure blocking noncitizen voting in Washington, D.C., garnered bipartisan support, with 52 Democrats crossing party lines to vote in favor. However, Democratic leadership is now urging solidarity among its ranks to oppose the SAVE Act.
Despite the anticipated House vote, prospects for the SAVE Act’s passage in the Senate remain uncertain. Even if approved by the House, the bill faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where partisan divisions could hinder its progress.
Tags: House Democrats, House of Representatives, House Republicans, Katherine Clark, Mike Johnson, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, Voter fraud, Voting, Voting Rights Act
[KARAH RUCKER]
CONGRESS IS RETURNING TO CAPITOL HILL.
ON THE DOCKET THIS WEEK –
A VOTE IN THE HOUSE ON THE CONTROVERSIAL “SAVE ACT”.
A BILL INTRODUCED BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT WOULD REQUIRE VOTERS TO SHOW PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP IN ORDER TO CAST A BALLOT.
WE’LL LAY OUT WHAT THE PROPOSAL MEANS.
HOW IT IMPACTS YOU.
AND THE REASONINGS FROM BOTH MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES FOR AND AGAINST IT.
THE SAVE ACT WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT.
UNDER THE CURRENT LAW –
VOTERS ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO ATTEST TO THEIR CITIZENSHIP STATUS –
BY CHECKING A BOX SAYING THEY **ARE A U.S. CITIZEN.
BUT THE SAVE ACT WOULD **CHANGE THIS –
REQUIRING SOMEONE TO SHOW PROOF THEY ARE A U.S. CITIZEN IN ORDER TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS – INCLUDING PRESIDENTIAL ONES.
DOCUMENTS THAT COUNT AS PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP INCLUDE –
A U.S. PASSPORT.
A PHOTO ID CARD **IF PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP WAS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN IT.
OR –
A PHOTO ID ALONG WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION –
SUCH AS A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
FOR U.S. CITIZENS WHO ARE LACKING DOCUMENTS –
STATES WILL BE GIVEN ACCESS TO “FEDERAL AGENCY DATABASES” SO THEY CAN CONFIRM A PERSON’S CITIZENSHIP IN ORDER TO APPROVE VOTER REGISTRATION – ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF THE “SAVE ACT” BILL.
OTHER CHANGES UNDER THE SAVE ACT WOULD INCLUDE REMOVING NON-CITIZENS FROM VOTER ROLLS –
HOMELAND SECURITY WOULD HAVE THE DISCRETION TO REMOVE NONCITIZENS FROM THE U.S. IF THEY WERE FOUND TO HAVE WRONGFULLY REGISTERED TO VOTE.
AND IF STATE ELECTION OFFICIALS REGISTER NONCITIZEN APPLICANTS – THEY CAN FACE JAIL TIME OR BE SUED.
HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNON RELEASED A 22-PAGE PLEA TO HOUSE MEMBERS TO “PASS THE SAVE ACT” –
IN IT –
HE SAYS “CONGRESS MUST PASS THE SAVE ACT TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES THAT ALLOW NONCITIZEN REGISTRATION AND – IN TURN – VOTING. TO ENHANCE ELECTION SECURITY. MINIMIZE THE RISK OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE – AND RESTORE AMERICANS’ CONFIDENCE IN U.S. ELECTIONS.”
THERE WAS A SIMILAR BILL VOTED ON BY THE HOUSE IN MAY –
BLOCKING NON-CITIZEN VOTING IN WASHINGTON D.C.
52 DEMOCRATS SIDED WITH REPUBLICANS TO PASS IT.
BUT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IS URGING ITS PARTY MEMBERS TO VOTE IN SOLIDARITY THIS TIME **AGAINST THE SAVE ACT.
IN A WHIP QUESTION RELEASED AHEAD OF THIS WEEK’S VOTE –
HOUSE MINORITY WHIP KATHERINE CLARK SAYS “Under the SAVE Act, for the overwhelming majority of Americans, the only acceptable standalone form of identification for use in voter registration would be a passport (or passport card). AREAL ID drivers’ license, a Tribal ID, or a military ID would be unacceptable unless coupled with additional documentation.”
“This would be an extreme burden for countless Americans, including military voters, Native voters, people who have changed their names (including tens of millions of American women), the elderly, the young, the poor, and naturalized citizens.”
THE SAVE ACT VOTE IS ONE OF SEVERAL TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK.
WE REACHED OUT TO HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON TO ASK WHEN THE SAVE ACT WOULD TAKE EFFECT IF IT WERE TO PASS –
WHETHER THE CHANGES WOULD TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
WHILE WE HAVEN’T HEARD BACK –
THERE IS A SLIM LIKELIHOOD THE BILL GETS TO THAT POINT.
EVEN IF IT PASSES THE HOUSE – IT’S NOT LIKELY TO GET TAKEN UP BY THE SENATE.
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