In a pivotal move, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation aimed exclusively at ensuring that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections.
The passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act marks a significant legislative effort to tighten voting regulations. The passage occurred on a Thursday, with the legislation, known as H.R. 22 or the SAVE Act, achieving a vote of 220 to 208.
Spearheaded largely by Republican support, the legislation underscores a growing concern among conservatives regarding voter eligibility.
The Daily Caller reported that just four Democrats were able to muster up the courage to vote with Republicans to ensure that American elections were secured against voter fraud.
The SAVE Act mandates that states must verify the citizenship of individuals before allowing them to register for federal elections. This move is stipulated to curb non-citizens from being listed inadvertently or otherwise on voter rolls.
Additionally, the Act requires states to purge non-citizens already incorrectly registered. This comes as a controversial but decisive step toward what proponents argue is preserving the sanctity of the electoral process.
Another significant aspect of the legislation is its facilitation for married women, easing their voter registration process even after a change of name post-marriage. This is seen as a step to simplify bureaucracy that might deter voter registration.
The bill's support was not entirely partisan, although it was largely dominated by Republicans. Four Democrats broke ranks to vote in favor of the bill, a move that highlights the bill's cross-party appeal to some extent.
The supportive Democrats were Reps. Henry Cuellar from Texas, Jared Golden from Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez from Washington, and Ed Case from Hawaii. Their votes were crucial in the tightly contested passage.
The bill was reintroduced by Rep. Chip Roy after failing to pass in a previous Senate controlled by Democrats, showcasing the persistence of its proponents to push through the legislative hurdles.
Debates around the bill were fervent, with Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson spearheading the support, claiming, "The SAVE Act is a crucial step to ensure only American citizens vote in American elections — without exception." His remarks echoed the sentiment of many conservatives who seek to enforce stricter voter eligibility criteria.
Meanwhile, from the Senate, GOP Senator Mike Lee underscored the importance of trust in election integrity, linking the SAVE Act with broader aspirations to fortify democratic institutions against foreign interference and undocumented registrations.
Underlining the opposition's criticisms, proponents of the bill like Rep. Kat Cammack urged detractors to thoroughly read the provisions, emphasizing that the existing registrants would not be affected unless inconsistencies were detected.
With President Donald Trump advocating strongly for the act’s ratification, stating on Truth Social that "Only American Citizens should be voting in our Most Important Election in History, or any Election!", the political climate remains charged and expectant of significant changes in the voting landscape.