The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a sweeping GOP-sponsored election integrity bill aimed at preventing non-citizens from voting in federal elections, despite strong opposition from nearly all Democrats.
The SAVE America Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), passed narrowly in a 218–213 vote, with only one Democrat—Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas)—joining Republicans in support.
The bill updates the earlier Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which cleared the House in April 2025 but failed to advance in the Senate. The revised measure not only mandates proof of citizenship during voter registration and tighter maintenance of voter rolls but also requires photo identification for voting in any federal election. It further directs state election officials to share citizenship data with federal agencies and authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to investigate cases where non-citizens appear on voter rolls.
Democrats denounced the legislation as a form of voter suppression, accusing Republicans of seeking to create unnecessary barriers to voting. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) argued the bill would disproportionately affect women, claiming it could complicate voting for married women whose last names differ from those on their birth certificates.
“Republicans aren’t worried about non-citizens voting—they’re afraid of actual American citizens voting,” Clark said on the House floor. “This is a minefield of red tape blocking women and other voters from exercising their rights.”
Republicans defended the measure as essential to restoring trust in U.S. elections amid record levels of illegal immigration. Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.) told Fox News Digital, “If we want to rebuild confidence in American elections, we need to pass the SAVE Act. The best way to eliminate distrust is to ensure every vote comes from a legitimate U.S. citizen.”