GOP passes bill requiring proof of citizenship before voting

Republicans say they just want to ensure that only citizens vote in elections.

Democrats counter that laws are in place already to prevent that and that the GOP is putting up unnecessary barriers to casting a ballot.

The GOP-dominated House today passed 220-208 the so-called SAVE act requiring voters to show proof of citizenship before voting.

CBS News reports that a 2023 study by the Brennan Center found that 21 million Americans don’t have easy access to citizenship documents.

“Let’s call the SAVE Act what it actually is: fraudulent fearmongering designed to exclude voters who are considered unfavorable,” said John Yang, Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC.

“Our communities rely on methods such as online, mail and voter registration drives, and this draconian measure would effectively end those options,” said Chrstine Chen, Executive Director of APIA Vote said in a statement.

APIA Vote fears the bill will be particularly burdensome on 69 million American women who changed their names after getting married. Their birth certificates don’t match their legal names and many don’t have passports.

It is also concerned that naturalize citizens, seniors, rural and low-income voters often don’t have easy access to citizenship documents.

“The American people have spoken very clearly that they believe only American citizens should vote in American elections. There’s nothing controversial about that,” said lead sponsor Chip Roy (R-TX).

Roy is the same person who has introduced legislation banning the purchase of land by Chinese nationals on a national basis.

The SAVE Act now goes to the Senate for a vote.