Congress·Passed House·H.R. 22

House Passes the SAVE Act, Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote

SAVE Act

12 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: SAVE America Act and DHS Funding Standoff

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

220–208

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill requires anyone registering to vote in federal elections to show physical proof that they are a U.S. citizen. While most states currently allow people to sign a statement swearing they are citizens, this law would require specific documents like a passport, a birth certificate, or a REAL ID that confirms citizenship status.
From policy text
“As used in this Act, the term `documentary proof of United States citizenship' means, with respect to an applicant for voter registration, any of the following: ``(1) A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States. ``(2) A valid United States passport.”
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States would be prohibited from processing voter registration applications from the DMV, through the mail, or at government agencies unless the applicant provides the required proof. People who register by mail may be required to visit an election office in person to show their documents before they are officially registered.
From policy text
“Under any method of voter registration in a State, the State shall not accept and process an application to register to vote in an election for Federal office unless the applicant presents documentary proof of United States citizenship with the application.”
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The policy requires federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, to share their records with state election officials. If a state asks for help checking a person's citizenship, the federal government must provide that information within 24 hours without charging a fee.
From policy text
“any head of a Federal department or agency possessing information relevant to determining the eligibility of an individual to vote in elections for Federal office shall, not later than 24 hours after receipt of such request, provide the official with such information as may be necessary to enable the official to verify that an applicant for voter registration in elections for Federal office held in the State”
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Election officials could face criminal penalties or private lawsuits if they register an individual who has not provided the necessary proof of citizenship. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to investigate any non-citizens found on voter rolls to determine if they should be removed from the country.
From policy text
“The Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct an investigation to determine whether to initiate removal proceedings under section 239 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229) if it is determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) that an alien (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)) is unlawfully registered to vote in elections for Federal office.”
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For citizens who do not have the standard documents, states must create a backup process. This would allow an applicant to submit other evidence and sign a sworn statement, but a local election official would have to sign a formal affidavit explaining exactly why they approved the registration.
From policy text
“each State shall establish a process under which an applicant who cannot provide documentary proof of United States citizenship under paragraph (1) may, if the applicant signs an attestation under penalty of perjury that the applicant is a citizen of the United States and eligible to vote in elections for Federal office, submit such other evidence to the appropriate State or local official demonstrating that the applicant is a citizen of the United States”
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Civil RightsImmigrationCriminal Justice

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Political Response

Milestones

3 milestones18 actions

Apr 10, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate.

Apr 10, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Apr 10, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 102). (text: CR H1569-1571)

Apr 10, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 102).

Apr 10, 2025House

On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 211 - 215 (Roll no. 101).

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Election Assistance Commission issues guidance to all states on new citizenship documentation requirements

Within 10 days of the bill becoming law, states would receive instructions on how to implement the new voter registration rules, including what documents to accept and how to handle applicants who lack standard proof.

States must establish programs to identify and remove noncitizens from voter rolls

Within 30 days of enactment, every state would need to have a system in place using federal databases to check whether registered voters are actually U.S. citizens, and remove those who are not.

New documentation requirements apply to all voter registration applications going forward

Anyone registering to vote in a federal election after the law takes effect would need to show physical proof of citizenship — such as a passport, REAL ID, or birth certificate — or go through a special alternative process.

Vote Results

2 votes

HouseFailedAmendmentApr 10, 2025

On Motion to Recommit

211

215

Democrat

211 – 0 · 2

Republican

0 – 215 · 5

View full roll call

HousePassedPassageApr 10, 2025

On Passage

220

208

Democrat

4 – 208 · 1

Republican

216 – 0 · 4

View full roll call

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Related Bills

5 bills

H.R. 7296Related bill

SAVE America Act

Jan 30 — Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

S. 3752Related bill

SAVE America Act

Jan 29 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

H.Res. 282Related bill

Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 18) disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions''; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 28) disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to ''Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications''; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1526) to amend title 28, United States Code, to limit the authority of district courts to provide injunctive relief, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 22) to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.

Apr 1 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

H.Res. 294Procedurally related

Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 18) disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 28) disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications"; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1526) to amend title 28, United States Code, to limit the authority of district courts to provide injunctive relief, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 22) to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.

Apr 8 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

S. 128Related bill

SAVE Act

Jan 16 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.