What’s In the SAVE Act
Bottom Line: Senator Rick Scott and Representative Chip Roy have been leading the charge attempting to pass what’s known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act. There is overwhelming support among the American people for voter ID. Gallup has found 84% of voters support mandatory voter ID making the issue one of the most politically popular proposals that’s not already policy. Yet, recently when Republicans attempted to push the measure as along with government funding bills for the fiscal year – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged to block it in the senate and House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries called it “dead on arrival”. So what’s in the SAVE Act?
Require proof of U.S. citizenship:
States must not accept or process a federal voter registration application unless the applicant provides acceptable documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration.
Acceptable documentation:
Includes things like identification compliant with the REAL ID Act that also indicates citizenship.
Alternative evidence process:
States must establish a process for applicants to submit other acceptable evidence if they don’t have standard documentary proof.
Ongoing eligibility verification:
States must take active steps to confirm that only U.S. citizens remain on voter rolls, including programs to identify noncitizens using various data sources.
Removal of noncitizens:
States must remove individuals identified as noncitizens from their lists of eligible voters.
That’s it. That’s all that’s in it. The bill passed the House of Representatives in April of last year. It’s what 84% of Americans think should already be law. It sits before the Senate where it’s been blocked by Chuck Schmer and his fellow Democrats. The question is why? The answer is sadly obvious.