H.R.22 - Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act; SAVE Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.22, the "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" (SAVE Act), aims to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) by requiring documentary proof of United States citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. The bill outlines acceptable forms of documentation, including REAL ID Act-compliant identification, U.S. passports, military IDs, and birth certificates. It also mandates that states implement processes to verify citizenship and remove non-citizens from voter rolls.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to add a layer of verification to the voter registration process for federal elections. This could potentially reduce instances of non-citizens voting, but it may also create barriers to registration for eligible citizens who lack or have difficulty obtaining the required documentation.
Potential Benefits
- Increased confidence in election integrity by ensuring only citizens vote in federal elections.
- Standardized citizenship verification processes across states.
- Enhanced accuracy of voter rolls by removing ineligible non-citizens.
- Potential reduction in fraudulent voter registrations.
- Clarification of the authority of states to remove non-citizens from voter lists.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential disenfranchisement of eligible citizens who lack required documentation, particularly minority and low-income voters.
- Increased administrative burden and costs for states to implement and maintain verification systems.
- Possible delays in voter registration processing due to documentation requirements.
- Risk of errors in citizenship verification leading to wrongful removal of eligible voters.
- Potential for increased litigation related to voter eligibility and documentation requirements.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is debatable. Proponents may argue it aligns with Article I, Section 2, which grants states the power to set voter qualifications, as long as those qualifications do not violate other constitutional provisions. Opponents may argue that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause and the Twenty-Sixth Amendment by creating undue burdens on the right to vote, especially for specific demographics. The Supreme Court has addressed similar state laws, and the outcome often depends on the specific details of the implementation and the burdens imposed on voters.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).