HR 22 · 119th Congress · HouseOther

SAVE Act

In plain language: 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.

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

Provisionalunreviewed: impact, provisions, stakeholders, summary

People affected—The text applies broadly to all individuals applying to register to vote in federal elections nationwide, but does not provide a specific count or estimate of individuals affected.

Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published

Reach82provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm

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Issues

What this bill touches.

Election rules−80Enforcement & security−35

The sign shows the bill's direction on each issue (+ toward, − away); the number is its magnitude. Color never encodes good or bad, and never party.

Who it affects

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.provisional
Newly naturalized U.S. citizensReceive automatic, prompt notification of their naturalization from the Department of Homeland Security to their state's chief election official.provisional

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.provisional
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.provisional
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.provisional
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).provisional
Federal executive branch employeesFace criminal penalties for providing material assistance to noncitizens attempting to register or vote in federal elections.provisional

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.provisional

Dollar-level funding (FEC sector totals) is coming in a later phase.

What it does

The provisions, in plain language.

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.
Sec. 2(a), 2(b), 2(f)(3)(j)(1)provisional
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.
Sec. 2(d)provisional
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.
Sec. 2(f)(3)(j)(2)provisional
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.
Sec. 2(f)(3)(j)(3)-(4)provisional
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.
Sec. 2(f)(3)(j)(5)provisional
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.
Sec. 2(f)(3)(k), 2(g)provisional
Authorizes private citizens to bring civil lawsuits against election officials who register applicants for federal elections without required documentary proof of citizenship.
Sec. 2(i)provisional
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.
Sec. 2(j)provisional

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Timeline

How it moved.

Apr 10, 2025Received in the Senate.
Apr 10, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Apr 10, 2025On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 102). (text: CR H1569-1571)
Apr 10, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 102).
Apr 10, 2025On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 211 - 215 (Roll no. 101).
Apr 8, 2025Rule H. Res. 294 passed House.
Apr 7, 2025Rules 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.
Apr 1, 2025Rules 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.
Jan 3, 2025Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025Introduced in House

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Sources & provenance

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