A bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections has passed the House of Representatives with a narrow 220-208 vote. The legislation, known as the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, now moves to the Senate, where it will need 60 votes to advance.
If enacted, the SAVE Act would create federal standards for verifying citizenship during voter registration—a shift from the current system in which individual states set their own rules. The bill’s main provisions include:
- Requiring individuals to present in-person proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections
- Mandating the removal of noncitizens from voter rolls
- Establishing nationwide standards for citizenship verification
- Creating enforcement mechanisms to uphold these rules
Currently, states have varied requirements for registering voters, with some demanding documentary proof while others allow self-attestation.
Supporters of the measure describe it as a step toward strengthening election integrity and ensuring that only citizens are eligible to vote in federal contests.