The Legislation Overview

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a significant piece of legislation known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, aimed at tightening voter registration requirements. Proposed by Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas), the bill mandates that all individuals registering to vote present documentation proving their citizenship. Acceptable forms of identification include a valid passport or an original birth certificate, a measure positioned as an effort to address perceived concerns over noncitizen voting.

Contentions and Criticism

Critics argue that the SAVE Act is more about political maneuvering than legitimate electoral security. Maurice Mitchell, the national director of the Working Families Party, contended that the legislation is designed to empower Republicans while making voting increasingly challenging for ordinary Americans. He stated, “H.R. 22 is how they plan to keep themselves in power,” emphasizing that it infringes upon the rights of working people to participate in elections.

The Brennan Center for Justice has indicated that the narrative of widespread noncitizen voting is unfounded, citing data from the 2016 elections which suggested that only 30 noncitizen votes may have been cast out of 23.5 million. This statistic translates to just 0.0001% of total votes, raising questions about the necessity and impact of the SAVE Act.

Potential Voter Disenfranchisement

Advocates for voting rights caution that the legislation could disenfranchise a significant number of American voters. Reports indicate that over 21 million citizens may struggle to access their birth certificates or passports, thus being unable to meet the new requirements. Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center, described the House’s action as enacting “one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history,” urging the Senate to reject it.

Public Citizen highlighted that approximately 146 million American citizens do not possess a passport, raising concerns about the potential disenfranchisement of tens of millions of voters. Special emphasis has been placed on demographic groups such as women and individuals who have changed their names after marriage, as they may face additional hurdles in proving their citizenship status.

Impact on Voting Accessibility

States like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Alabama may experience a pronounced impact the SAVE Act due to lower percentages of citizens holding valid passports. The legislation would not only complicate the registration process but also eliminate methods like voter registration drives and online registration, which have been widely utilized across many states. It also mandates states to initiate voter roll purges, adding another layer of complexity for voters.

Commenting on this, Gilbert from Common Cause described the bill as an “assault on a fundamental American freedom—our ability to vote,” noting that eligible voters might suddenly find themselves barred from participating in elections due to registrational inaccessibilities.

Bi-Partisan Support and Opposition

While the bill received predominantly Republican support, four Democrats joined in favor of it, a decision that elicited criticism from organizations advocating for voting rights. Common Cause’s president, Virginia Kase Solomón, labeled the SAVE Act a “modern-day poll tax,” arguing that the legislation could force millions of citizens into financial burdens for documentation needs.

Next Steps in Legislative Process

The SAVE Act now moves to the Senate, where it faces a potentially challenging pathway. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced a parallel bill in the Senate, but it requires support from Democrats to surpass the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Advocates for voting rights are calling on senators to reject any iteration of this legislation, pressing the argument that it undermines the integrity of the electoral process.

Tony Carrk, executive director of Accountable.US, articulated concerns regarding the implications of the SAVE Act, stating, “Congressional Republicans’ anti-voting legislation is a power grab to silence the voices of American citizens—full stop.” He highlighted the potential for this legislation to disrupt fair election outcomes.