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In a move sparking intense political and legal debate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Thursday, a bill that would require individuals to present proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
The legislation, which passed in a 220–208 vote, was supported by every Republican present and four Democrats — Reps. Ed Case (HI), Henry Cuellar (TX), Jared Golden (ME), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA). The bill, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), seeks to codify an executive order recently issued by former President Donald Trump, and is seen as a central part of his broader agenda on election reform and immigration enforcement.
What the SAVE Act Would Do
The bill proposes several key changes to the National Voter Registration Act:
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Mandatory Proof of Citizenship: States would be required to collect in-person proof of citizenship when voters register for federal elections.
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Voter Roll Purge Programs: States must establish programs to identify and remove undocumented immigrants from existing voter rolls.
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Legal Recourse for Citizens: The bill would give American citizens the right to sue election officials who do not enforce the proof-of-citizenship requirements.
Rep. Roy defended the bill, stating, “In order to preserve this republic, we must uphold what it means to be able to vote in a U.S. election… This serves as a critical first step to ensure that we maintain election integrity throughout our country.”
Critics Sound Alarm Over Voter Suppression
Voting rights advocates, Democratic lawmakers, and civil liberties organizations have condemned the SAVE Act, arguing it could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, especially those without easy access to official documentation.
Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), ranking member of the House Administration Committee, called the bill “one of the most damaging voter suppression bills in modern history,” warning that women, military members, and communities of color would be disproportionately affected.
The ACLU also issued a sharp rebuke, citing data that suggests up to 69 million women who changed their last names after marriage could be at risk of being blocked from voting due to mismatches between names on birth certificates and other ID documents.
The Legal Landscape
Under current federal law, noncitizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections. Voter registration forms require applicants to attest — under penalty of perjury — that they are U.S. citizens. Moreover, incidents of noncitizen voting have been found to be extremely rare and are routinely investigated.
Multiple courts have previously blocked state-level efforts to require documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections, citing violations of federal law and risks of disenfranchisement.
Trump and GOP allies have increasingly emphasized the risk of noncitizen voting — a claim widely discredited by election experts and watchdogs — as part of broader, controversial efforts to address alleged voter fraud.
What’s Next in the Senate?
The bill now heads to the Senate, where its path is far less certain. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced a companion measure, which has 20 Republican co-sponsors. But the measure faces a steep climb to clear the 60-vote threshold needed to pass in the Senate. With a 53-47 majority, Senate Republicans would need Democratic support.
Unless at least seven Democrats break ranks, the SAVE Act is unlikely to reach President Trump’s desk — though the issue will almost certainly remain a major point of contention.
A Political Flashpoint in 2024
The SAVE Act is part of a growing wave of Republican-led efforts to reshape voting laws ahead of the next election. Democrats and civil rights groups argue these measures threaten to erode fundamental voting rights, while Republicans insist they are essential to restoring public confidence in U.S. elections.
With Trump doubling down on his immigration and election integrity agenda in his second term, the SAVE Act is likely just the beginning of a renewed battle over the balance between election security and voter access.
