WASHINGTON, USA – A Republican-backed bill, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, SAVE Act, aims to tighten voter registration rules, but critics warn it could make registration significantly harder, especially for married women who changed their names.
The legislation, reintroduced by Texas Representative Chip Roy, seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act by requiring in-person proof of U.S. citizenship before allowing individuals to register.
While its supporters argue that the measure is necessary to prevent noncitizen voting, critics warn that it could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters.
Who Could Be Affected?
A major concern with the SAVE Act is that much of the documentation required to prove citizenship—such as birth certificates—does not reflect name changes due to marriage.
According to the Center for American Progress, as many as 69 million married women in the U.S. have changed their legal names, meaning their birth certificates would no longer match their current identification.
- If a woman does not possess a passport, which 146 million Americans do not have, she may struggle to register to vote under the new requirements.
- The bill does not list marriage certificates or proof of name changes as acceptable forms of identification, adding an extra layer of difficulty for married individuals.
- Young voters, elderly citizens, and people of color are also more likely to lack access to the additional documents required under the bill.
Existing Safeguards Already Prevent Noncitizen Voting
Voting as a noncitizen is already illegal in the United States, and strict measures exist to verify voter eligibility.
Currently, voter registration processes:
- Require Social Security numbers to confirm identity.
- Use federal databases to cross-check voter rolls.
- In many states, require voter ID at the polls.
Additionally, attempting to vote illegally carries severe penalties, including deportation for noncitizens.
A 2024 audit of Georgia’s voter rolls found that only 20 noncitizens out of 8.4 million registered voters had attempted to vote—a minuscule 0.00024% of the voter list. All 20 were referred to law enforcement and had no impact on the election outcome.
Potential Political Consequences for Republicans
The SAVE Act could disproportionately affect Republican voters, despite being introduced by a Republican-led Congress.
A Pew Research study found that Republican women are more likely than Democratic women to change their last names after marriage.
The seven states with the lowest passport ownership rates—West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Oklahoma—all voted for Donald Trump in 2024.
If passed, the bill could unintentionally suppress voter turnout in Republican strongholds.
Additionally, election workers face harsh penalties under the bill, including up to five years in prison for registering voters without proper documentation—even if those voters are legally eligible.
Supporters and Critics Speak Out
Proponents of the SAVE Act argue that it is necessary to protect election integrity.
In a statement to the press on Tuesday, Chip Roy (R-TX) said, “This bill isn’t being attacked because it’ll exclude citizens from voting—it won’t. It’s being attacked because the policy is wildly popular with the American people, its opponents want and need illegals to vote, and they’ll use anything they can to attack it.”
Cleta Mitchell, founder of the Only Citizens Vote Coalition, in a press statement wrote, “America’s elections must be lawful, fair, and free from fraud. The SAVE Act is a vital safeguard to ensure that only citizens vote in our elections.”
However, voting rights groups have strongly condemned the legislation.
The Campaign Legal Center has said, “More than 21 million Americans are unable to access the additional documents required to register under the SAVE Act. The right to vote is a basic American freedom, and our elected officials should be working to protect that right, not restrict it.”
The Center for American Progress had warned in an article late January, that “The only Americans who stand to benefit from the SAVE Act are out-of-touch politicians willing to trample on the rights of millions of citizens to score political points.”
What Happens Next?
Initially introduced in July 2024, the SAVE Act failed to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate.
However, with Republicans now controlling both congressional chambers and the White House, the bill is expected to advance quickly.
If enacted, the law is unlikely to significantly affect noncitizen voting, as documented cases of illegal voting are rare.
However, it will make it substantially harder for millions of Americans to register, particularly women, low-income voters, and those without passports or immediate access to birth certificates.
With a 2026 midterm election cycle looming, voting rights organizations are expected to challenge the SAVE Act in court, setting the stage for a legal battle over voter access in the United States.
