SAVE Act
This bill requires Americans to present official proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a U.S. passport, an eligible REAL ID, or a government photo ID paired with a certified birth certificate—when registering to vote in federal elections. Applicants who submit registration forms by mail must present their citizenship documents in person to an election official before they can be registered. States are required to cross-reference voter rolls with federal databases to identify and remove noncitizens, and federal agencies must verify voter records upon request. The measure also creates criminal penalties and allows civil lawsuits against election officials who register individuals without required proof of citizenship.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Private citizens challenging voter registration complianceGain a statutory private right of action to bring civil lawsuits against election officials who register applicants for federal elections without documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
- Newly naturalized U.S. citizensReceive automatic, prompt notification of their naturalization from the Department of Homeland Security to their state's chief election official.
Who it burdens
- Federal voter registration applicantsMust present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a passport, REAL ID indicating citizenship, or birth certificate with photo ID) to register to vote in federal elections, present documents in person if registering by mail, or complete an alternative affidavit and evidence process if lacking standard documents.
- State and local election officialsMust verify documentary proof of citizenship for all applicants, establish processes to resolve discrepancies or review alternative evidence under uniform EAC affidavits, run ongoing noncitizen removal programs using federal/state databases, and face civil lawsuits and criminal penalties for registering applicants without required documentation.
- State motor vehicle and public assistance agenciesMust ask applicants about citizenship and collect documentary proof of U.S. citizenship before processing voter registration applications submitted alongside driver's license applications or public assistance and disability services.
- Federal departments and agencies (DHS, SSA, EAC)Must respond to state citizenship verification requests within 24 hours without charging fees, share relevant records across agencies, issue implementation guidance and standardized affidavits (EAC), and conduct deportation investigations of unlawfully registered noncitizens (DHS).
- Federal executive branch employeesFace criminal penalties for providing material assistance to noncitizens attempting to register or vote in federal elections.
Who opposes it
- Noncitizens registered or attempting to register to voteSubject to immediate removal from federal voter rolls upon receipt of documentation showing noncitizenship, mandatory DHS investigations for deportation/removal proceedings if found registered, and potential use of registration records in criminal or immigration proceedings.
The provisions, in plain language.
Show all 16 provisions
Prohibits states from accepting or processing any voter registration application for a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, REAL ID indicating citizenship, military ID showing U.S. birthplace, or a government photo ID paired with a birth certificate or naturalization record.
Requires applicants using mail voter registration forms to present documentary proof of citizenship in person to an election official (or at the polling place in same-day registration states), and requires states to notify applicants of the rule, accommodate voters with disabilities, and conduct public outreach.
Requires each state to create an alternative process allowing applicants who lack standard documents to submit other evidence of citizenship under penalty of perjury accompanied by a standardized Election Assistance Commission affidavit, and to resolve documentation discrepancies.
Directs states within 30 days to establish ongoing programs to identify noncitizens on voter rolls using Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, and state motor vehicle databases.
Requires federal agencies to respond within 24 hours without charging fees to state election officials' requests to verify voter citizenship, and directs the Department of Homeland Security to investigate for potential deportation any noncitizen found registered to vote.
Requires states to remove any noncitizen from the official list of eligible federal voters immediately upon receiving documentation or verified information showing the individual is not a citizen.
Authorizes private citizens to bring civil lawsuits against election officials who register applicants for federal elections without required documentary proof of citizenship.
Establishes criminal penalties for election officials who register federal voters without proof of citizenship, and for federal executive branch employees who provide material assistance to noncitizens attempting to register or vote in federal elections.
Requires state motor vehicle agencies to verify citizenship and obtain documentary proof of citizenship before processing voter registrations submitted alongside driver's license applications.
Requires voter registration agencies, such as public assistance and state-funded disability offices, to ask applicants if they are U.S. citizens and collect documentary proof of citizenship before offering voter registration forms.
Requires the national mail voter registration form to explain citizenship proof requirements and provide space for election officials to record details of the proof presented, and allows registration information to be used as evidence in false-citizenship criminal or immigration proceedings.
Applies federal citizenship proof and verification requirements to states that are otherwise exempt from the National Voter Registration Act, unless those states adopt identical state-level rules at least 60 days before their next federal election.
Directs the Election Assistance Commission to issue implementation guidance to state chief election officials within 10 days of enactment.
Exempts the creation and revision of federal voter registration forms and materials under this Act from Paperwork Reduction Act review requirements.
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to promptly notify state chief election officials whenever an individual living in their state becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Clarifies that individuals may still cast provisional ballots in federal elections and have them counted if their U.S. citizenship is verified.
Prohibits states from accepting or processing any voter registration application for a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, REAL ID indicating citizenship, military ID showing U.S. birthplace, or a government photo ID paired with a birth certificate or naturalization record.
Requires applicants using mail voter registration forms to present documentary proof of citizenship in person to an election official (or at the polling place in same-day registration states), and requires states to notify applicants of the rule, accommodate voters with disabilities, and conduct public outreach.
Requires each state to create an alternative process allowing applicants who lack standard documents to submit other evidence of citizenship under penalty of perjury accompanied by a standardized Election Assistance Commission affidavit, and to resolve documentation discrepancies.
Directs states within 30 days to establish ongoing programs to identify noncitizens on voter rolls using Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, and state motor vehicle databases.
Requires federal agencies to respond within 24 hours without charging fees to state election officials' requests to verify voter citizenship, and directs the Department of Homeland Security to investigate for potential deportation any noncitizen found registered to vote.
Requires states to remove any noncitizen from the official list of eligible federal voters immediately upon receiving documentation or verified information showing the individual is not a citizen.
Authorizes private citizens to bring civil lawsuits against election officials who register applicants for federal elections without required documentary proof of citizenship.
Establishes criminal penalties for election officials who register federal voters without proof of citizenship, and for federal executive branch employees who provide material assistance to noncitizens attempting to register or vote in federal elections.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on SAVE Act.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 18 actions
- Received in the Senate.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 102). (text: CR H1569-1571)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 102).
- On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 211 - 215 (Roll no. 101).
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1580-1581)
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 22, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. Johnson (TX) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- Ms. Johnson (TX) moved to recommit to the Committee on House Administration. (text: CR H1569)
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 22.
- Rule provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 18, S.J. Res. 28, H.R. 1526 and H.R. 22. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 22, H.R. 1526, S.J. Res. 18, and S.J. Res. 28 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on each measure and one motion to recommit on H.R. 22 and H.R. 1526, and one motion to commit on S.J. Res. 18 and S.J. Res. 28.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 294. (consideration: CR H1569-1579)
- Rule H. Res. 294 passed House.
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 294 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 18, S.J. Res. 28, H.R. 1526 and H.R. 22. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 22, H.R. 1526, S.J. Res. 18, and S.J. Res. 28 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on each measure and one motion to recommit on H.R. 22 and H.R. 1526, and one motion to commit on S.J. Res. 18 and S.J. Res. 28.
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 282 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 22, H.R. 1526, S.J. Res. 18 and S.J. Res. 28. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 22, H.R. 1526, S.J. Res. 18, and S.J. Res. 28 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on each measure and one motion to recommit on H.R. 22 and H.R. 1526, and one motion to commit on S.J. Res. 18 and S.J. Res. 28. The resolution also provides that H. Res. 23 and H. Res. 164 are laid on the table.
- Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Introduced in House
- Received in the Senate.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 102). (text: CR H1569-1571)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 102).
- On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 211 - 215 (Roll no. 101).
- Rule H. Res. 294 passed House.
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 294 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 18, S.J. Res. 28, H.R. 1526 and H.R. 22. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 22, H.R. 1526, S.J. Res. 18, and S.J. Res. 28 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on each measure and one motion to recommit on H.R. 22 and H.R. 1526, and one motion to commit on S.J. Res. 18 and S.J. Res. 28.
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 282 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 22, H.R. 1526, S.J. Res. 18 and S.J. Res. 28. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 22, H.R. 1526, S.J. Res. 18, and S.J. Res. 28 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on each measure and one motion to recommit on H.R. 22 and H.R. 1526, and one motion to commit on S.J. Res. 18 and S.J. Res. 28. The resolution also provides that H. Res. 23 and H. Res. 164 are laid on the table.
- Introduced in House
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Sources & provenance
Cite this page
Civic Herald. “SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-22. Congress.gov record as of Aug 10, 2026.