If passed, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
Additionally, states would be required to take further steps to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote — including the establishment of a program that would identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens.
President Donald Trump supports the passage of this act.
“It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION — GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY — ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
Data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program recognized 0.04% of voters to be non-citizens. A Utah citizenship review found that out of its entire voter registration list of 2,069,640, only one registered voter — who had never cast a vote — was not an American citizen.
In addition, concerns about voting registration for married women who have changed their last name have been raised regarding this act.
There has been debate that women whose last names do not match that of their birth certificates may not be able to easily prove their citizenship. Legal experts say that this challenge can be overcome with secondary documents, such as a legal decree of a name change or a marriage certificate, but they warn that obtaining a marriage certificate may be difficult for those who have been married for a long time.
At a City Hall press conference on Feb. 27, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones addressed these apprehensions and explained what she has done to combat this act and how she will continue to do so through the Mayor’s Commission on Voting.
“I am proud to announce the Mayor’s Commission on Voting. This nonpartisan commission will be solely focused on increasing voter engagement across our state. Later this summer, we will celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday,” Jones said. “At the birth of our nation, women and people of color were not allowed to vote. Voting is the mark of a citizen. It is a cherished right, and it is a right that is under attack. Earlier this week, I sent a letter to our senators, encouraging them to reject the SAVE Act, a bill that would make it harder for most Americans to vote, but particularly for married women.”
Jones’ proposed commission follows her victory in the City Council’s approval to move San Antonio’s municipal elections to November of odd-numbered years.
“I am proud of our efforts, in large part to many of the folks back here, to move the municipal election from May to November, a move that will save our city money and increase [voter] turnout,” Jones said.
The mayor’s commission would consist of three mayoral appointees and one appointee from each of the 10 council districts. The commission is pending approval with a goal of being in place by April 3.
“The responsibility to achieve a more perfect union does not fall on the shoulders of a few, but on the collective conscience of us all,” Jones continued.
The SAVE Act has passed in the House and is currently pending in the Senate.
