SAVE Act: House GOP Prepares to Enhance Noncitizen Voting Protections

As the 2024 election approaches, House GOP leaders plan to introduce the SAVE Act, a bill aimed at strengthening noncitizen voting safeguards.

With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, House Republican leaders are gearing up to introduce a bill that would enhance protections against noncitizens voting. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), is set to be taken up in July, adding another layer to the ongoing debate over voter fraud and election integrity.

The SAVE Act's 22-page report outlines arguments for the necessity of such a bill, citing "irrefutable evidence" that noncitizens have voted illegally in U.S. elections. Johnson's memo attributes this issue to the 1993 National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which does not require states to ask for proof of citizenship when registering voters for federal elections. The report also points to the Biden administration's border policies as exacerbating the problem by enabling more people to enter the U.S. illegally.

SAVE Act: House GOP Prepares to Enhance Noncitizen Voting Protections

The bill's proponents also reference instances of noncitizen voter purges in states like Massachusetts, Virginia, and Ohio. Virginia recently removed nearly 1,500 people from its voter rolls for non-citizen status, with 335 of them having cast ballots in previous elections. Despite arguments from Democratic critics that the SAVE Act is unnecessary due to existing laws prohibiting noncitizen voting, supporters maintain its importance in strengthening safeguards and aligning with other democracies that prohibit such practices.

The timing of the vote, set for next month, holds significance as it comes less than six months before the potential rematch between former President Trump and President Biden in the 2024 election. Even if passed by the House, the bill faces an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

SAVE Act: House GOP Prepares to Enhance Noncitizen Voting Protections

Johnson, while introducing the bill alongside Trump at Mar-a-Lago, emphasized its role in ensuring "free and fair elections." The bill proposes requiring proof of citizenship upon voter registration, bringing the U.S. in line with other democracies.

The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment on the SAVE Act. As the 2024 election draws closer, the debate over voting laws and election integrity is likely to intensify, with the SAVE Act serving as a focal point of discussion.

SAVE Act: House GOP Prepares to Enhance Noncitizen Voting Protections