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Republicans claim the SAVE Act is about keeping noncitizens from voting — that’s a lie.
Watch Sen. Merkley speak on the Senate floor as he argues that the bill represents an effort by Trump to rig the upcoming midterm elections:
Background
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act aims to prevent noncitizens from registering to vote. In reality, Republicans want to pass the bill to make it harder for millions of American citizens to cast their ballots.
While presented as a safeguard against noncitizen voting, the SAVE Act’s strict documentation requirements would create significant barriers for millions of eligible American citizens.
Supporters argue that the bill protects electoral integrity, but its real effect would be to suppress turnout among specific groups rather than address voter fraud.
This law would require everyone to present a birth certificate, passport, or other proof of citizenship when registering to vote or updating their voter registration. According to a 2021 study by the Brennan Center for Justice, over 21 million eligible U.S. citizens — roughly 11% — don’t have ready access to government-issued photo identification that clearly shows their citizenship status. Lack of such documentation disproportionately affects minority groups, married women who have changed their names, and younger voters. If this bill passes, millions of eligible voters in these demographics could be disenfranchised.
The requirement applies not just to new registrations but also to updates like address changes — affecting the tens of millions of Americans who routinely amend their records between elections, raising further concerns about disenfranchisement.
The bill offers no clear guidance for those who can’t provide proof of citizenship, leaving states without uniform standards. It also criminalizes registering people without documentation, which may deter officials from helping eligible voters who lack traditional paperwork.