House approves bill that requires voters to show proof of citizenship in federal elections
The House of Representatives recently approved a bill aimed at ensuring that only American citizens are able to vote in federal elections. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, pushed by House speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Chip Roy, was passed by a final vote of 221-198 after a heated debate on the House floor.
Surprisingly, five Democrats broke ranks and voted in favor of the measure, showing bipartisan support for the bill. Now, the SAVE Act heads to the Senate where it is expected to face strong opposition from Democrats and a potential veto from President Biden.
The bill, introduced by Roy in May with strong endorsement from former President Trump, has garnered significant attention leading up to the vote. Johnson has been actively advocating for the legislation, highlighting the importance of ensuring that only American citizens have the right to vote in federal elections.
According to Johnson, the SAVE Act includes provisions that require state election officials to verify citizenship before providing voter registration forms, mandates individuals to provide proof of citizenship before registering to vote, and allows states to access a federal agency database to confirm citizenship and remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
In addition, the bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to take action against noncitizens who are found to have registered to vote in federal elections and notifies state officials when individuals have been naturalized, allowing them to exercise their right to vote.
Following the passage of the SAVE Act, the Tea Party Patriots Action group issued a statement expressing their support for the bill, citing its potential to enhance the integrity of federal elections and prevent noncitizens from voting illegally.
However, opponents of the bill argue that it is redundant as current U.S. law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections. They also raise concerns that the bill could potentially disenfranchise American citizens by creating obstacles to voter registration.
Despite the mixed reactions to the SAVE Act, its approval in the House marks a significant step towards ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and upholding the rights of American citizens to participate in federal elections.
