A prominent Democrat has issued a letter to House Democrats, urging them to oppose a Republican-sponsored bill set to be debated on the House floor this week. The bill, known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, would require individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections.
The letter, sent by House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), argues that the SAVE Act is unjustifiably questioning the integrity of U.S. elections following the 2020 election, despite no evidence of the fraud it aims to prevent. Clark’s office emphasized that current laws already prohibit noncitizens from registering to vote or participating in federal elections.
If passed, the SAVE Act would impose stringent restrictions on voters, mandating that only a passport or passport card be accepted as a standalone form of identification for voter registration. Other forms of ID, such as REAL ID driver’s licenses, Tribal IDs, or military IDs, would only be deemed acceptable if accompanied by additional documentation proving the applicant’s U.S. citizenship.
The bill has faced opposition from senior Democrat Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), who strongly opposes the current version of the legislation.
Under the SAVE Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), potential voters would need to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to cast their ballots in federal elections, including presidential elections. Acceptable forms of identification could include a passport, a photo ID card indicating U.S. birth, or other photo IDs along with documents proving U.S. birth, such as a birth certificate.
In addition to identification requirements, the bill would require the removal of noncitizens from voter registration rolls and oblige election officials to demand proof of U.S. citizenship from noncitizen registrants, warning them of the consequences of providing false information.
The Department of Homeland Security would be tasked with determining whether deportation proceedings should be initiated for noncitizens identified as registered voters in federal elections.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) publicly expressed his support for the bill on various social media platforms, citing evidence of noncitizens illegally registering and voting in U.S. elections. Johnson’s office released a report advocating for the SAVE Act, emphasizing the need to restore confidence in U.S. elections.
While Democrats argue that the bill could hinder American citizens from voting, Johnson asserts that a wide range of documents would be accepted for citizen voter registration.
Some courts have already ruled on bills requiring proof of citizenship for voting. In Arizona, similar measures were passed and upheld by a federal judge, underscoring the ongoing debate over election integrity.
The Epoch Times reached out to Ms. Clark’s office for additional comments on the matter.
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