US polling booth
US polling booth
Washington, DC-The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 2025, during the 119th Congress.
The legislation would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Under the bill, states would be prohibited from accepting or processing a voter registration application for a federal election unless the applicant presents approved documentation confirming U.S. citizenship.
Acceptable documents would include forms of identification that comply with the REAL ID Act of 2005 and indicate U.S. citizenship. The measure also specifies that states may not register an individual to vote in a federal election unless proof of citizenship is provided at the time of application.
In addition, the bill directs states to create an alternative process allowing applicants to submit other evidence to demonstrate citizenship if standard documentation is not available.
The legislation further requires states to take ongoing, affirmative steps to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote in federal elections. This includes establishing programs to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information from designated sources and removing noncitizens from official voter rolls.
The SAVE Act provides for a private right of action against election officials who register applicants without documentary proof of citizenship. It also establishes criminal penalties for certain violations, including registering an applicant who fails to provide the required proof.
Source: H.R. 22 (119th Congress) Congress.gov
