Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Wednesday, claiming a "dangerously high number" of illegal immigrants are voting in U.S. elections and potentially swaying election outcomes.
House Republicans led by Speaker Mike Johnson are pushing for legislation aimed at preventing non-citizens from voting in U.S. elections, citing concerns about illegal immigrants casting ballots and influencing election results.
Johnson unveiled the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Wednesday, alongside the bill's co-sponsors, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. The speaker claimed that the Biden administration's border policies have allowed a "dangerously high number" of non-citizens to enter the country and potentially vote, which could "change the outcome of our elections."
Despite acknowledging that the exact number of non-citizens voting is unknown, Johnson insisted that the SAVE Act would address the issue by allowing states to verify voter citizenship claims. "States are not allowed right now to prove if somebody claims on that simple form that they're a citizen, they can vote. They're not allowed to prove whether it's true or not," he said.
Roy echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the support for voter ID protections among Americans. "We're here for the simple proposition supported by the vast majority of the American people, that only citizens of the United States should vote," he stated.
The legislation was supported by former Trump administration officials Stephen Miller and Hogan Gidley, now with the America First Policy Institute, who decried the idea of non-citizens participating in U.S. elections. "It is dangerous lunacy to ignore the law and allow people who are not American citizens to vote in American elections," Gidley said.
Johnson declined to provide a specific timeline for the bill's floor vote. The initiative highlights Republican concerns about voter fraud and election integrity, which have been a focus of the party's platform in recent years.
However, critics of the SAVE Act argue that it is unnecessary and could disenfranchise eligible voters. They point to a lack of evidence supporting widespread non-citizen voting and express concerns that the legislation could erect barriers to participation, particularly for marginalized communities.
Despite the objections, the bill's sponsors maintain that it is a necessary safeguard to protect the integrity of U.S. elections. The debate over non-citizen voting is likely to continue as the bill progresses through the legislative process.
