SAVE Act

The “SAVE Act” recently passed in the US House along party lines, but is likely to die in committee in the US Senate.

The bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections.

Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.

Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by specified sources.

Additionally, the bill requires states to remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters.

Context: It is already a law that voters be US citizens. The SAVE Act was passed by the House in an effort to enforce that law.

Do you agree that officials should enforce the current laws regarding citizenship in Federal elections?

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