The United States House has officially approved the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act on a 200-208 vote. The Act, which is more commonly known as the SAVE Act, aims to eliminate noncitizens who cast their votes in the US elections. The bill received its approval on Thursday, while its opponents believe it will deprive millions of Americans of their voting rights. If you are someone who is wondering what exactly the Save Act is and what its requirements are, this article is for you. It brings you everything you need to know about the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.
Save Act 2025: Requirements
Texas Republican Chip Roy has sponsored the Save bill. The requirement of this bill is that all the people who are going to register to vote or even update their registration will have to show their citizenship proof. The proof can either be a birth certificate or a passport. The bill also clarifies that people can use Real IDs with improved security standards to prove their citizenship. However, those IDs do not usually include that information. Moreover, lawful residents who are not US citizens and ineligible to vote can also get these IDs.
Why Is Save Act Bill Considered Problematic?
According to various studies and research, many potential voters in the country don’t have birth certificates matching their current names. More than 9% of citizens in the United States who have already attained the voting age do not possess readily available proof of citizenship. The requirements of this bill have disproportionate impacts on young voters, residents of rural areas, tribal people, colored people, and people without housing. It will also potentially impact those born in the US territories and people affected by natural disasters.
Who Supported The Save Act 2025 Bill?
The Republicans are the ones who are standing in support of the bill. They mentioned on the House floor this Thursday that it is going to codify elements of Trump’s executive order. The Republicans also added that it will ensure subsequent administrations cannot erase the elements. They cited examples from localities that discovered non-citizens registered as voters. The Republicans believe such instances reduce the confidence of the American citizens in the elections.
Who’s Against The Bill?
The Democrats are the ones who have expressed their concerns against the bill. Around half of the citizens do not possess a passport, which reduces one of the elementary ways of proving their citizenship. The Democrats expressed concerns about how much money they will have to spend if they all have to get a passport when passport fees are currently $165. The bill directs the states to come up with a process for those with changed names. However, the Democrats believe the states will come out with different processes, and it will only lead to more confusion. They also mentioned how it is not even clear how much time it will take for these rules to be put into place.
How Did The Republicans Respond To The Concerns Raised?
Mary Miller, a representative of the Republicans, mentioned how the Democrats are expressing their concerns that residents of rural areas, women, and colored people are incapable of getting an ID. She called this claim insulting, condescending, and untrue. Miller further added how an ID is required for daily activities these days. Lauren Boebert, another Republican from Colorado, said married women are being used as bait by the Democrats. She asked the Democrats to come in the next round and explain what a woman actually is.
Save Act 2025 Now In The Hands Of The Senate
Michael Waldman, the president and CEO of the Brennan Center, called the bill “the worst piece of voting legislation in American history.” He urged the Senate to stop it as he believed the Save Act would push voting rights out of the reach of millions of Americans. The House also passed an earlier version of this bill the previous year. However, the Senate did not pass it. It will be interesting to see what the fate of the bill is in the Senate this year.
