The SAVE America Act would create a new federal requirement that goes beyond existing voter ID laws in most states by mandating specific documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote. This proposal fundamentally changes federal voter registration by replacing the long-standing system of sworn attestation, in which applicants affirm their citizenship under penalty of perjury, with a system that conditions registration on possession of specific government-issued documents that are not easily obtained by many Americans who are eligible to vote.

What This Bill Will Do

• Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections
• Prohibit states from processing applications without specified documents
• Impose in-person proof requirements with mail registration
• Mandate expanded voter roll reviews using federal databases
• Establish enforcement provisions and criminal penalties related to registration without required proof

Who Will Be Harmed

This legislation creates significant barriers for eligible voters, including:

• Low-income individuals who cannot afford document fees and related costs
• Seniors, especially those born at home or to midwives, whose birth records may be incomplete, inaccurate, or difficult to obtain
• College students who may not have ready access to original documents while living away from home
• Black and Brown communities, who are more likely to experience documentation disparities due to longstanding historical inequities