Bill Explanation

Bill Explanation

This bill, called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act, aims to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The bill proposes to require individuals to provide proof of United States citizenship in order to register to vote in elections for Federal office. It also includes provisions for the types of documents that can be used as proof of citizenship, such as identification cards, passports, military identification cards, and birth certificates.

The bill also includes requirements for voter registration agencies and election officials to ensure that only citizens are registered to vote. It establishes processes for individuals who cannot provide documentary proof of citizenship to submit alternative evidence and for individuals to provide additional documentation in case of discrepancies. The bill also allows states to establish programs to identify individuals who are not citizens through various sources, such as the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration.

The bill clarifies the authority of states to remove noncitizens from the official list of eligible voters and includes criminal penalties for election officials who register individuals to vote without the required documentation. The bill also provides for the Election Assistance Commission to issue guidance for the implementation of these requirements.

The provisions of the bill would apply to applications for voter registration submitted on or after the effective date of the bill, and the Paperwork Reduction Act would not apply to the development or modification of voter registration materials under the bill.

Rep. Christopher Smith

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