Urges US Senate to pass federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act."
If the SAVE Act is enacted, it would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) to require documentary evidence of U.S. citizenship before individuals can register to vote in federal elections. This would necessitate that states implement strong procedures for verifying citizenship and identity, ensuring that all registered voters are indeed eligible. Moreover, the act would provide states access to federal databases to streamline the verification process and to identify and remove ineligible voters from the rolls.
Assembly Joint Resolution No. 194 (AJR194) urges the United States Senate to pass the federal 'Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.' The resolution emphasizes the importance of ensuring that only eligible American citizens can participate in federal elections and highlights current vulnerabilities in the voter registration process. Specifically, AJR194 points out that while federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting, it does not mandate proof of citizenship during voter registration, leading to potential inaccuracies in voter rolls and undermining public confidence in election integrity.
The resolution and the associated SAVE Act stem from rising concerns regarding election integrity, particularly regarding the erroneous registration of noncitizens in several states. Instances in states like Pennsylvania and California illustrate the urgency of addressing this issue, as significant numbers of noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote. With a substantial portion of the American public expressing concerns about ineligible voting, proponents argue that implementing stronger safeguards is necessary to restore confidence in the electoral system. However, critics may counter that such measures could lead to unjust barriers for eligible voters, especially among marginalized communities.