Washington – The Chamber adopted a bill Thursday which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in the federal elections in order to codify one of President Donald Trump’s executive actions from his second term.
The legislators approved the law on the eligibility of American safeguard voters (SAVE) during a 220-208 vote, four Democrats joining all the Republicans present in support of the measure.
The legislation, sponsored by the representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, would modify the national law on the registration of voters so that states are required to obtain proof of citizenship in person of people who register to vote.
States should also establish a program to withdraw undocumented immigrants from existing electoral lists and allow American citizens to pursue electoral officials who do not meet the requirements of citizenship.
Electoral officials and defenders of voting rights have warned that the safeguard law would deprive eligible voters who do not easily have access to identification documents.
It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in the federal elections and practice rarely occurs. Federal law requires that voters register to vote swear in the penalty of perjury that they are citizens and eligible to vote. And register to vote and vote a ballot leaves a paper path according to which elected officials are held by law to examine regularly. The courts have prevented the States from adding documentary requirements for evidence for voters of federal races.
Trump and his GOP allies focused on the threat of voting of non-citizens in the elections in the context of their wider allegations unfounded with electoral fraud. Trump signed an executive decree last month to force people to prove their citizenship when they register to vote. Democrats and voting rights groups challenged the order in court.
The fate of the Bill of the Chamber is uncertain in the Senate, where Senator Mike Lee, Rutah, unveiled a company bill earlier this year. With a majority of 53-47, the Senate Republicans would need democratic support to overcome the threshold of 60 vote to bring the bill to a final vote and finally send it to Trump to connect. Lee’s bill currently has 20 co-sponsors, which are all Republicans.
Jane C. Timm contributed.
