WATCH LIVE: House to Vote on SAVE Act to Require Proof of Citizenship for Voting

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act this morning. 

The bill, championed by Republicans who want honest elections, will mandate documentary proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Currently, one does not need to provide proof of citizenship, such as a driver’s license or a passport, to vote in races for President, the House, and the Senate.

Under the proposed law, states would be barred from processing voter registration applications unless applicants present “documentary proof” of citizenship, such as a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a U.S. passport, or a certified birth certificate paired with a government-issued photo ID.

For those without immediate proof, states must establish alternative processes—like signed affidavits under penalty of perjury—to verify citizenship.

The bill doesn’t stop there. It mandates states to actively purge noncitizens from voter rolls, leveraging federal databases like the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system and the Social Security Administration’s verification tools. States would also be required to set up programs within 30 days of enactment to root out ineligible voters.

The SAVE Act also takes aim at federal agencies, requiring them to share citizenship data with state election officials within 24 hours of a request—no fees allowed.

Any election official caught registering non-citizens could face criminal penalties, including federal charges. The Department of Homeland Security would even be tasked with investigating and potentially deporting any noncitizen caught unlawfully registered.

Democrats claim this will disenfranchise millions of voters, especially nonwhites, and that accepted forms of ID are not easily accessible.

The House began one hour of debate on the SAVE Act at approximately 9:20 am ET.

At approximately 10:20 am, the House will begin voting on the congressional budget, then the SAVE Act.

Watch live below: