SAVE Act Slated for Vote

US Senate Majority Leader John Thune has promised a vote on the SAVE Act this week, with the Senate preparing to take its first vote Tuesday, USA Today reports.

While voting to open debate requires only a simple majority, Senate rules require 60 votes to overcome a promised Democratic filibuster. One Republican, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, is already on record against it.

The SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot. The law would take effect immediately, affecting the 2026 midterm elections.

Supporters of the bill say passage is necessary to stop what they see as rampant voter fraud on behalf of the Democrats. Another argument is that voter ID laws actually increase voter turnout because of increased voter confidence, an argument then-Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft made during one of his visits to Worth County.

Opponents say that passage would disenfranchise hundreds of millions of people. Americans would be required to present a passport or a birth certificate when registering or updating their registration. The Center of American Progress says that 146 million Americans do not possess a valid passport. This would paradoxically disenfranchise more people in red states, where passport ownership is much lower.

Pew Research reports that 84% of women who marry change their name. This means that 69 million women could not use their birth certificate to prove citizenship, given that the SAVE Act makes no mention of being able to show a marriage certificate or change of name documentation.

 

SAVE Act Designed to Ensure Only Citizens Vote

The SAVE Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), would require documentary proof of US citizenship to vote in any election for federal office. Valid forms of ID are as follows:

—A form of identification consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005;

—A valid US Passport;

—A valid US military identification card along with a US military record of service showing the applicant’s place of birth was in the US;

—A valid government issued photo ID showing the applicant’s place of birth was in the US;

—A valid government photo ID issued by a federal, state, or tribal government other than an identification described above, but only if presented with one or more of the following:

—A certified birth certificate issued by a State, a unit of local, or tribal government which was issued by the entity in question, was filed with the office responsible for keeping vital records in the state, includes the full name, date of birth, and place of birth of the applicant, lists the full names of one or both of the parents, has the signature of an individual authorized to sign birth certificates, includes the date that the certificate was filed with the office responsible for keeping vital records, and has the seal of the entity that issued the birth certificate.

—An extract from a US hospital Record of Birth created at the time of the applicant’s birth which indicates that the applicant’s place of birth was in the US;

—A final adoption decree showing the applicant’s name and showing the applicant’s place of birth was in the US;

—A consular report of birth abroad of a citizen of the US or a certification issued by the Secretary of State;

—A Naturalization Certificate, Certificate of Citizenship, or any other document or method of proof of US citizenship issued by the Federal Government.

—An American Indian Card issued by the Department of Homeland Security with the classification KIC.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on House Administration.