The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly passed the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in a 220-208 vote. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it will need at least 60 votes to advance.
If enacted, the SAVE Act would establish nationwide standards for verifying citizenship during the voter registration process in federal elections. This would mark a significant change from the current approach, where each state sets its own rules.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Requiring individuals to present in-person proof of citizenship to register for federal elections
- Directing states to remove noncitizens from federal voter rolls
- Creating uniform standards across all states for citizenship verification
- Introducing enforcement mechanisms to support compliance
Currently, some states require documentary proof of citizenship, while others allow voters to self-attest during registration.
Supporters of the legislation say it aims to strengthen confidence in the election system by ensuring that only eligible U.S. citizens participate in federal elections. The bill’s future remains uncertain as it faces further debate in the Senate.