H.R. 22 – The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act
Rep. Chip Roy’s SAVE Act (H.R.22) will address this by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in Federal
elections to ensure the integrity of our elections. It amends the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to require
states to verify US citizenship when registering an individual to vote in federal elections, give states the tools to
remove non-citizens from their voter rolls, and penalize officials that knowingly register non-citizens.
MYTH: “The SAVE Act would prohibit married women – or anyone who has changed their name – from voting.”
FACT: This is fake news. Under the SAVE Act, those individuals (i.e. most) who have updated their documentary
proof of citizenship (which can include things like a REAL ID, passport, or government-issued identification with
their place of birth), no action is needed, and they can register to vote. For the small fraction of individuals who have
not yet updated their documentation to reflect a name change, which most do immediately for other life purposes, the
SAVE Act explicitly directs states to establish a process for them to register to vote irrespective of those discrepancies.
Like other areas of the law, citizens will be able to use combinations of existing identification documents, certificates
of birth from the state, and other similar documentation to demonstrate citizenship. No one will be left unable to
register to vote due to a name change.
MYTH: “The SAVE Act would require everyone to have a U.S. passport to register to vote.”
FACT: The SAVE Act merely requires documentary proof of United States citizenship to register to vote. This is not
just limited to passports, but can include: a REAL ID (in use in all 50 states now), a US military ID card together
with paperwork showing place of birth was in the United States, and any valid government issued identification card
issued by Federal, State, or Tribal government showing the applicants place of birth was in the U.S.
MYTH: “In federal elections, we have no evidence of illegals voting.”
FACT: There is ample evidence of non-US citizens registering to vote. One 2014 study of the 2008 and 2010
elections found that non-citizens voted and likely impacted the outcome in several races. Virginia removed 1,481
voter registrations for “non-citizen status.” In 2014, North Carolina conducted a study that found over 1,400 registered
voters on its rolls appeared to be non-citizens. Numerous states and local jurisdictions are actively seeking to register
non-citizens in their elections. One illegal ballot cast is one too many and can impact the outcome of tight elections.
MYTH: “The SAVE Act is unnecessary because it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote.”
FACT: While only U.S. citizens can legally vote in Federal elections, the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)
effectively stops states from checking citizenship during registration, preventing the law from being enforced. The
SAVE Act is needed to require states to verify US citizenship when registering individuals to vote in federal elections,
give states the tools to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls, and penalize officials that register non-citizens.
MYTH: ‘The SAVE Act will make it impossible for U.S. Servicemembers to vote if deployed aboard.”
FACT: This bill does not amend the Uniformed Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and leaves in
place existing procedures and safeguards for servicemembers abroad to vote absentee in federal elections.
MYTH: “The SAVE Act is unconstitutional and violates the principles of federalism.”
FACT: The Elections Clause, the Naturalization Clause, and the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments clearly give
Congress the authority to enact the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act is a narrow bill that simply strengthens the law that has
governed the federal voter registration process for 30 years – the NVRA – by requiring states to verify citizenship for
registration in federal elections.