
Republicans are intensifying efforts to prevent noncitizens from voting in U.S. elections through the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Spearheaded by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), the bill would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, replacing the current system where applicants simply check a box attesting to their citizenship status.
While Democrats argue that noncitizen voting is rare, Republicans point to incidents in states like Pennsylvania, where 11,198 noncitizens were found on voter rolls in 2019, and North Carolina, where 41 noncitizens cast votes in 2016. Republicans argue that even one illegal vote undermines trust in the election system.
Democrats, however, are pushing back hard. They claim the SAVE Act is unnecessary and will only suppress voter turnout, particularly among minority groups. President Joe Biden has criticized the bill, calling it based on “falsehoods,” and the majority of Democrats in the House voted against it earlier this year.
Meanwhile, left-leaning media outlets like The New York Times have echoed the Democratic stance, with articles dismissing concerns about noncitizen voting as unfounded. Despite these objections, Republicans remain steadfast, insisting that voter integrity is essential.
As Johnson plans to link the SAVE Act to government funding, it sets the stage for a major political battle. Democrats are expected to do everything they can to block the bill, but Republicans are determined to push it through, arguing that every legal vote must be protected.