Quick Hit:

The House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which mandates proof of citizenship for federal voters. Despite bipartisan support, the bill faces significant hurdles in the Senate and a potential presidential veto.

Key Details:

• The SAVE Act, sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and backed by House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, passed Wednesday night with a 221-198 vote. Five Democrats supported the measure.

• The legislation requires state election officials to verify citizenship before issuing voter registration forms and grants states access to federal databases to confirm citizenship.

• President Biden has vowed to veto the bill, and it faces strong opposition in the Senate, where Democrats argue it could supposedly disenfranchise U.S. citizens.

Diving Deeper:

According to a report by Fox News, the House of Representatives approved the SAVE Act on Wednesday night, aiming to ensure only American citizens can vote in federal elections. The bill, formally known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, was spearheaded by House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. The final vote was 221-198, with five Democrats—Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Don Davis of North Carolina, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington—joining Republicans in support.

Johnson emphasized the bill's importance in protecting election integrity. "The SAVE Act will safeguard our elections by ensuring only American citizens vote in federal elections," he stated, detailing the legislation's provisions. The bill mandates that state election officials verify citizenship before providing voter registration forms and allows for a variety of documents to be used for this purpose. Additionally, it grants states access to a federal agency database to remove noncitizens from voter rolls and confirm citizenship status for those lacking proof.

The legislation also directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to begin removal proceedings for noncitizens who are found to have registered to vote in federal elections and requires DHS to notify state election officials when an individual is naturalized, enabling them to register to vote.

Supporters, such as the Tea Party Patriots Action, argue that the SAVE Act will bolster election integrity by closing loopholes that allow noncitizens to vote. "This legislation would represent a step forward in upholding the sanctity of our democratic process," the group stated.

However, the bill faces significant opposition. President Biden has pledged to veto the measure, and critics, including Senate Democrats, argue that it is unnecessary and could supposedly result in U.S. citizens being denied their right to vote.