SAVE Act: House Passes Bill Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote

The House passed a bill aimed at ensuring only legal US citizens can vote in elections Thursday, making good on a campaign promise President Trump frequently touted during the election.

Just four Democrats joined a unanimous Republican caucus in approving the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — or SAVE Act — which aims to enshrine into law an executive action signed by the president last month requiring proof of citizenship to cast a ballot.

Reps. Ed Case of Hawaii, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington were the only Democrats to vote in support of the bill, which passed with a final tally of 220-208.

The Act — authored by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) — passed the House last year but ultimately failed in the Senate.

“In order to preserve this republic, we must uphold what it means to be able to vote in a U.S. election,” Roy said in a statement.

“I am grateful that my colleagues answered the call and passed the SAVE Act, as this serves as a critical first step to ensure that we maintain election integrity throughout our country.”

Given the GOP’s narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, the bill’s fate is questionable when it reaches the upper chamber, as Republicans will likely fall short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

If the bill becomes law, it would apply to all new voter registrations, requiring states to reject any application if the applicant has failed to present “documentary proof of United States citizenship.”

Acceptable proof of citizenship as outlined in the bill includes:

• A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license

• A valid US passport

• A military ID card with a military record of service that lists the applicant’s birthplace as in the US.

• A valid government-issued photo ID that shows the applicant’s birthplace as in the US.

• A valid government-issued photo ID presented with a document, such as a birth certificate, which proves the applicant was born in the US.

Critics — including voting rights groups — have blasted the bill, saying it could disenfranchise millions of Americans who, though legally eligible to vote, might not have ready access to the necessary documentation.

Trump’s executive order from last month is currently facing several legal challenges from Democratic members of congress and voting rights groups.

Currently, federal law prohibits noncitizens to vote in federal elections, requiring voters to swear under penalty of perjury that they are legally allowed to cast their ballot.

Stamping out election fraud and cracking down on noncitizen voting have been signature issues for both President Trump and congressional Republicans, despite the fact that instances of such fraud have been found to be exceedingly rare.