Sponsors (50)
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Requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, directs States to create procedures to verify and remove noncitizens from voter rolls, speeds federal data sharing (including naturalization notices from DHS), and creates new enforcement tools (including criminal penalties and a private right of action). It exempts voter-registration form changes from the Paperwork Reduction Act, gives the Election Assistance Commission a 10‑day deadline to issue guidance, preserves provisional-ballot rights for verified citizens, and takes effect on enactment for applications submitted on or after that date.
Defines “documentary proof of United States citizenship” and lists acceptable documents (REAL ID-compliant ID showing citizenship, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID plus service record showing U.S. birthplace, government-issued photo ID showing U.S. birthplace, other government photo ID plus additional documents such as certified birth certificate, hospital birth record, final adoption decree, Consular Report of Birth Abroad or certification, Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship, or an American Indian Card with KIC classification).
Under any method of voter registration, a State must not accept or process an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship with the application.
Requires State motor vehicle driver’s license application procedures and related DMV processes to be subject to the Section 8(j) requirements (i.e., the documentary-proof requirement), and adds a duty to verify that the motor vehicle applicant is a U.S. citizen where applicable.
Amends the national mail voter registration form rules so States must require documentary proof of citizenship under section 8(j), the chief State election official must take steps to inform residents about the proof requirement, and the federal mail form must include an official-only section to record the type and details of the document presented.
If an applicant submits a mail voter registration form, the applicant must present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person to the appropriate election official by the State law deadline for receipt of a completed voter registration application, or (for States that permit same-day/polling-place registration) present proof at the polling place by the date of the election. The election official must notify the applicant of this requirement and provide instructions. States must make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities to present proof.
Direct effects: Registered voters are directly affected because the Act requires documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections; naturalized citizens who lack readily available documentation and citizens without traditional proof (e.g., older voters, people born abroad to U.S. parents with sparse records) could face new hurdles and delays. State and local election offices will face increased administrative and technical burdens to implement verification, maintain removal procedures, integrate federal notifications from DHS, and manage provisional ballots. Departments and agencies (notably DHS, the Election Assistance Commission, motor-vehicle agencies, and postal/registration systems) must set up faster information exchanges, produce guidance on compressed timelines, and coordinate with States. Fiscal and operational impact: States will likely incur costs (IT upgrades, staff, training, appeals processing) to build and run verification/removal programs; the Act does not appropriate funds, creating a risk of unfunded mandates. Legal and civil‑rights impact: the new criminal penalties and private right of action create incentives for enforcement but also raise litigation risk and potential chilling effects on registration; erroneous removals or mismatches could disenfranchise eligible voters and prompt court challenges. Public trust and turnout implications: stricter documentary requirements and more aggressive list maintenance may reduce noncitizen registrations but could also suppress lawful registrations if documentation requirements or removals are applied incorrectly. The PRA exemption and rapid EAC timeline accelerate implementation but reduce standard federal review and public-comment processes, increasing the chance of implementation errors or litigation over forms and procedures.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Introduced January 16, 2025 by Mike Lee · Last progress January 16, 2025
SAVE America Act
SAVE America Act
SAVE Act
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Introduced in Senate
