The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, is a bill drawing national attention as it moves through Congress amid debate over election security and voter access. The act would require Americans to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections, using documents such as passports, birth certificates with original names or naturalization records.
Supporters argue the proposal is aimed at protecting election integrity.
“Nobody that is not a U.S. citizen should be voting in our elections,” said Sen. Rick Scott.
Critics warn the measure could create new barriers for eligible voters.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the legislation, “is like Jim Crow 2.0. They make it so hard to get any kind of voter ID that more than 20 million legitimate people, mainly poorer people and people of color will not be able to vote under this law.”
Election policy researchers note that millions of Americans do not readily have access to documents that prove citizenship, particularly individuals who have changed their names, younger voters, and lower-income Americans. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, roughly 9% of voting-age citizens, or about 21 million people, lack immediate access to proof-of-citizenship documents such as passports or birth certificates.
Some voters say reforms would be necessary if the bill becomes law.
“I believe that for the SAVE Act to really work and to make it compelling for everyone,” said South Carolina resident Jay Shaw said. “There needs to be a free and easy means of getting the documentation that would prove citizenship.”
The legislation passed the House last week and now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader John Thune has said supporters are still short of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster, leaving the future of the measure uncertain.
