Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) would require Americans to provide citizenship documents like birth certificates or passports to register or re-register to vote.
A study by the Brennan Center revealed over 21 million citizens lack easy access to these documents, many of whom are actively engaged voters. Approximately 64% of those without easy access are registered. Still, they would be unable to re-register if needed, risking their participation in future elections, especially since over 12% of Americans move annually.
The Act would also impact popular registration methods, such as online and mail registration, which account for a significant number of new registrations. Requiring in-person verification would likely deter many voters, thereby exacerbating the relationship between ease of registration and voter turnout. Ultimately, the SAVE Act could exclude millions of American voters from participating in future elections.
This legislation will be first heard in the House of Representatives. If passed in the House, it will go on to the Senate.
119th Congress H.R.22 and S.128 - Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act
This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
Specifically, 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.
Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources.
Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters.
The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
SPONSOR: Representative Chip Roy - Sponsor (R-TX) said... American elections belong to American citizens, and the public's confidence in those elections is the cornerstone of our republic. We in Congress have a duty to our fellow citizens to provide that confidence and put concrete enforcement in place to ensure that our elections and our sovereignty cannot be hijacked and influenced by foreign nationals who have no business voting in this country. That's why I am proud to reintroduce the SAVE Act with my friends Senator Mike Lee and Representative Andrew Garbarino. The House passed this critical bipartisan bill last year - I look forward to working with the Republican Senate to put this policy on President Trump's desk.”
A note from the Colorado Forward Party (CO FWD) Legislative Subcommittee:
CO FWD is opposed to this bill. There is no evidence to suggest that this legislation will offer more benefit than harm. Studies have confirmed a low level of non-citizen voting, and laws are already in place to discourage this practice. (NPR 2024). We believe this Act, if passed, will require additional work by the States while disenfranchising many low-income voters, people displaced by disaster, and married women whose names no longer match their birth records.
A note from the CO Secretary of State Griswold:
The SAVE Act would flip our elections upside-down by making it harder for millions of American citizens to be able to vote and threatening election workers with criminal penalties for doing their jobs. This is a threat to our democracy that cannot be ignored. -- Griswold also signed onto this letter, along with secretaries of state representing 15 states.
Read The League of Women Voters opposition to the SAVE Act
TAKE ACTION!! -- Contact your Legislators
Find your representative by zip code - Jeff Crank is a co-sponsor
U.S. Senate: States in the Senate | Colorado