A plan by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to require proof of citizenship for voter registration has ignited strong opposition from Democrats. Johnson’s Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act seeks to tighten election security by ensuring that only U.S. citizens can register to vote in federal elections.
Under current rules, applicants merely check a box affirming their citizenship, but Republicans argue this system is vulnerable to abuse. Pennsylvania’s voter rolls, for instance, included 11,198 noncitizens in 2019, and North Carolina saw 41 noncitizens cast ballots in 2016. Though Democrats argue that such instances are rare, Republicans believe even one illegal vote is too many.
President Joe Biden and his party have vocally opposed the SAVE Act, claiming it’s based on unfounded concerns and will discourage eligible voters. Biden has described the justification for the bill as “falsehoods,” and The New York Times has published articles dismissing the threat of noncitizen voting.
Nevertheless, Republicans are pushing ahead, with Johnson attaching the SAVE Act to a government funding bill in an effort to force a vote. Democrats, however, are working to rally opposition, warning that the legislation could have a chilling effect on voter turnout.
As election integrity remains a key issue for conservative voters, the GOP’s push to require proof of citizenship is likely to resonate with its base, while setting up a contentious political fight ahead of the 2024 election.
