House Approves SAVE Act, Sparking Debate on Election Integrity and Voter Eligibility

The House of Representatives approved the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act with a vote of 220-208. The measure saw four Democrats crossing party lines to join 216 Republicans in support, while 208 Democrats voted against it. The Democrats who voted in favor were Representatives Jared Golden, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Henry Cuellar, and Ed Case.

The SAVE Act aims to combat voter fraud by requiring individuals to provide proof of American citizenship with approved documentation before being allowed to register to vote in federal elections. It also makes it a criminal offense to register someone who fails to provide such proof and mandates that states remove noncitizens from their voter rolls.

The legislation was introduced by Representative Chip Roy. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the integrity of elections to maintain public trust in governmental institutions. Supporters of the bill believe it is crucial to prevent disenfranchisement by requiring proof of citizenship during voter registration, thereby preventing illegal votes.

The SAVE Act previously passed the House in a prior Congress but was blocked by Senate Democrats. Republicans in the Senate may attempt to attach the bill to a spending measure to bypass a potential Democratic filibuster. Senator Mike Lee proposed this strategy in 2024, although the SAVE Act was ultimately removed from the spending bill.

Several members of Congress expressed their views on the legislation. Some voiced disappointment in the opposition to the bill, highlighting the importance of bipartisan support for election reforms. Others emphasized the need for secure elections and the importance of ensuring that only American citizens participate in federal elections.