House Passes SAVE Act, Setting Stage for Senate Battle Over Voter Eligibility

The House of Representatives approved the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Thursday. The measure, supported by former President Donald Trump, aims to prevent noncitizen voting. The vote saw 208 Democrats opposing the bill.

The SAVE Act, which passed with a vote of 220-208, now moves to the Senate. It will require support from some Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold needed for advancement. Democrats have expressed opposition to the bill, despite polls indicating broad support for voter ID requirements.

A poll revealed that a significant majority of respondents favor requiring a photo ID to vote and supporting proof of citizenship when registering for the first time.

If the SAVE Act passes the Senate and is signed into law, it would mandate that voters provide proof of citizenship in person before registering for federal elections. It would also remove noncitizens from voter rolls.

Republicans argue the bill is crucial to ensure only American citizens participate in elections. Democrats, however, dispute the notion that illegal immigrants are voting in U.S. elections. They point out that noncitizens attempting to register to vote face severe penalties.

Democrats argue the SAVE Act would disrupt the voter registration process and that Republicans have failed to provide evidence of noncitizen voting affecting election outcomes. The bill previously failed to pass the Senate under the previous administration.

The bill's sponsor stated that the legislation aims to restore faith in elections and protect election integrity. The bill gained traction during the 2024 presidential election, with the Republican National Committee leading voter integrity efforts.

Voter registration rules vary by state. The SAVE Act would federalize the issue, requiring proof of citizenship and removing noncitizens from voter rolls.