H.R. 22Official recordSep 21, 2026
SAVE Act
This bill requires people to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
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In plain English
- It requires states to obtain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship from anyone registering to vote in federal elections.
- Acceptable documents include a REAL ID showing citizenship, a U.S. passport, or photo ID with a certified birth certificate.
- People who register using mail-in forms must present their citizenship documents in person to an election official.
- States must create programs to cross-reference voter rolls with federal databases to identify and remove noncitizens.
- Election officials who register applicants without proof of citizenship could face criminal penalties and civil lawsuits.
What happens either way
If it passes
- Every new applicant registering for federal elections must show official proof of U.S. citizenship.
- Mail-in registration applicants must appear in person to verify their citizenship documents before becoming registered.
- Federal agencies must verify citizenship status for state election officials within 24 hours without charging fees.
- Election officials who register people without required citizenship documents face potential criminal prosecution.
If it doesn't pass
- Federal voter registration will continue to rely primarily on signed sworn statements under penalty of perjury.
- Mail-in applicants will not need to present physical citizenship documents in person to election offices.
- States will not be required by federal law to cross-reference voter rolls with federal immigration databases.
- Election workers will not face new federal criminal charges for registering voters without physical citizenship documents.
Who it affects
- New voter registrants
- Must gather and present approved citizenship documents, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register.
- State and local election workers
- Must verify physical citizenship documents and cross-check voter lists against federal immigration records.
- Federal agencies like DHS and SSA
- Must respond to state citizenship verification requests within 24 hours at no charge.
- Married voters who changed their names
- May face extra administrative steps to prove citizenship if their current name differs from their birth certificate.
The case each side makes
Arguments in favor
- Requiring physical documentation ensures that only eligible American citizens participate in federal elections.
- Cross-referencing voter rolls with federal databases helps states keep voter lists accurate and updated.
- Clear proof requirements boost public confidence and trust in the integrity of election results.
- Stricter verification rules and penalties deter noncitizens from unlawfully registering to vote.
Arguments against
- Millions of eligible voting-age citizens lack easy access to expensive documents like passports or certified birth certificates.
- Requiring people who register by mail to visit an election office in person makes voter registration much harder.
- Noncitizen voting is already illegal under federal law, and documented evidence shows it occurs extremely rarely.
- Strict document rules could disenfranchise married women whose current legal names do not match their birth certificates.
These are arguments people make about this bill, not positions taken by this site.