Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) has reintroduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Rep. Roy's bill includes provisions to ensure that only United States citizens – not illegal immigrants – can vote in U.S. elections by requiring proof of citizenship in order to vote in federal elections.
In June, the New York Post reported that 49 states in the Union are actively providing voter registration forms without the necessary proof of citizenship.
“There is currently no requirement on federal voting forms to provide proof of US citizenship, though it is illegal to falsely claim one is a citizen or for a non-citizen to cast a ballot in a federal election … If an applicant attests that they are a US citizen, that is considered valid on its face and the person is registered to vote,” wrote Josh Christenson of the New York Post.
Rep. Roy said Congress must safeguard American elections.
“American elections belong to American citizens, and the public's confidence in those elections is the cornerstone of our republic," said the Texas representative. We in Congress have a duty to our fellow citizens to provide that confidence and put concrete enforcement in place to ensure that our elections and our sovereignty cannot be hijacked and influenced by foreign nationals who have no business voting in this country. That's why I am proud to reintroduce the SAVE Act with my friends Senator Mike Lee and Representative Andrew Garbarino," said Rep. Roy.
Furthermore, Roy said that with a Republican majority in the Senate, he looks to send the SAVE Act to the White House.
"The House passed this critical bipartisan bill last year - I look forward to working with the Republican Senate to put this policy on President Trump's desk," concluded Roy.
Moreover, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), the author of the companion legislation in the upper chamber, said this bill is necessary for the "legitimacy of our democratic institutions" in America.
“Public trust in the integrity of our elections is absolutely essential for the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. A vast majority of our countrymen agree: only American citizens should be able to register and vote in American elections. The SAVE Act gives states the ability to prevent illegal voter registration and protect the ballot box from foreign election interference," said Sen. Lee.
Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
