Staff Reports
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, aiming to reinforce proof-of-citizenship requirements in federal elections. President Biden has threatened to veto the legislation should it make its way through the Senate. Democrats have criticized the bill as “racist” and “xenophobic,” echoing their usual rhetoric.
The SAVE Act, championed by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), secured a 221-198 vote in the House, with five Democrats breaking ranks to support the Republican-led initiative. The bill mandates state election officials to inquire about citizenship status before distributing voter registration forms, a step towards ensuring election integrity. Presently, federal voting forms do not necessitate proof of citizenship, resulting in reports of non-citizens receiving such forms in nearly all states.
House Passes Bill That Bans Noncitizen Voting, Biden Vows To Veto https://t.co/9vKJJzvqBB
This about what the people want, NOT GOVERNMENT!!!🤬— Brian Staples (@BrianSt03826698) July 11, 2024
Additionally, the bill empowers state officials to accept various documents for voter registration, grants access to federal agency databases to weed out noncitizens from voter rolls, and directs the Department of Homeland Security to take action against noncitizens found to have registered to vote in federal elections. The measure also requires DHS to inform state election officials upon an individual’s naturalization, safeguarding the voting rights of newly minted American citizens.
However, the SAVE Act faces an uphill battle, as Biden has denounced it as reminiscent of the Jim Crow era’s poll tax. Democrat Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) parroted this sentiment, claiming the bill’s aims are unnecessary due to existing laws criminalizing noncitizen voting. The White House reiterated this stance, dismissing the bill’s justification and insinuating that states are already equipped to manage voter eligibility.
Despite opposition from Democrats, a 2022 poll revealed that 65 percent of Americans, including a notable 48 percent of Democrats, support the concept of requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Elon Musk, the outspoken CEO of X, Tesla, and SpaceX, labeled Democrats against the bill as “traitors.” Musk criticized the current voting system’s vulnerabilities, particularly the combination of mail-in ballots and the lack of oversight, suggesting a prohibition on such practices to prevent potential fraud.
In conclusion, the SAVE Act’s passage in the House signifies a step towards fortifying election security by prioritizing proof of citizenship in federal elections. While liberal opposition persists, the bill’s popular support among Americans underscores the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the voting process.
