Lafayette Reporter

Senators John Kennedy and Mike Lee have introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a legislative proposal aimed at ensuring that only U.S. citizens can register to vote in federal elections. The current law prohibits non-citizens from voting in these elections but does not mandate states to verify citizenship during voter registration.

The proposed SAVE Act seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act by requiring all states to demand proof of citizenship, such as a REAL ID compliant driver's license or a U.S. passport, when individuals register to vote in federal elections.

"Americans know that U.S. citizenship is sacred and that foreign nationals shouldn’t get to vote in our elections any more than Americans should be able to vote in French or Nigerian elections. The SAVE Act would make sure that people who aren’t even citizens don’t cancel out Louisianians’ or other Americans’ voices at the ballot box," said Senator Kennedy.

The bill also addresses concerns raised since the 2020 presidential election regarding the increase of illegal immigrants residing in the United States. It emphasizes the necessity for voters to prove their U.S. citizenship before participating in American elections.

In addition to requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, the SAVE Act proposes several measures: it mandates states establish processes for removing foreign nationals from existing voter rolls, increases federal penalties for those registering foreign nationals to vote, and outlines acceptable methods for proving U.S. citizenship when legal documentation is unavailable.