Congressional Republicans passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. This measure, seen by some as a way to undermine November election results, mandates in-person documentation such as a Real ID, passport, or other forms of identification proving U.S. citizenship. A standard driver’s license would not suffice without additional proof of birthplace, like a birth certificate.
Despite it already being illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, and with no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting, the bill aims to address concerns pushed by some Republicans. Former President Trump has pressured Congress to pass the bill, claiming on Truth Social that non-citizen voting is being promoted by Democrats.
The bill is unlikely to pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate, and the Biden administration has indicated it would veto the legislation. The White House stated that the bill would make it harder for eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk of eligible voters being purged from voter rolls.
Non-citizen voting has been a key issue for Republicans, combining concerns about illegal immigration and voter fraud. With increased asylum seekers under the Biden administration, Trump and his allies have intensified claims about non-citizen voting, despite lacking evidence.
Far-right figures and organizations, including Heritage Action and Elon Musk, support the bill, with some framing opposition as traitorous. House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the lack of evidence but insisted that many believe non-citizen voting is occurring.