The SAVE Act — short for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — is proposed federal legislation that would change how Americans register to vote in federal elections.
Here’s what the SAVE Act does:
Table of Contents
Requires Proof of U.S. Citizenship to Register
The bill would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Acceptable documents could include:
- A valid U.S. passport
- A certified birth certificate
- Naturalization papers
- Other government records verifying citizenship
Under current federal law, applicants affirm their citizenship by signing a sworn statement on the voter registration form. The SAVE Act would require physical documentation instead of relying solely on that attestation.
Changes the Federal Voter Registration Process
The legislation would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. If enacted, it could:
- Limit online voter registration unless citizenship documents are submitted
- Affect mail-in voter registration procedures
- Require election officials to verify documentation before approving registrations
This would add a new verification step to the registration process nationwide.
Expands Verification and Enforcement Requirements
The SAVE Act would require states to implement procedures to confirm citizenship status and could impose penalties on election officials who fail to enforce the documentation requirements.
Why Supporters Back It
Supporters say the bill is meant to:
- Prevent noncitizens from registering to vote
- Strengthen election security
- Increase public confidence in federal elections
They argue that requiring documentation standardizes citizenship verification across all states.
Why Critics Oppose It
Opponents argue the measure could:
- Make voter registration more difficult for eligible citizens who do not have easy access to documents
- Affect elderly voters, low-income Americans, rural residents, and married women whose legal names differ from birth records
- Reduce overall voter participation
They point out that voting by noncitizens is already illegal under federal law.
Current Status
The SAVE Act has been introduced in Congress and has passed the House of Representatives in certain sessions. Its future depends on Senate consideration and whether it can receive enough support to become law.
If you’d like more detail about how this could affect elections in your state, I can break that down for you.
