S128119th Congress

SAVE Act

Sponsored By: Senator Mike Lee

Introduced

Summary

Requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. This bill would bar states from processing any application for a federal election unless the applicant presents specified citizenship documents and would add verification, information-sharing, removal, and enforcement rules to the voter registration system.

Show full summary
  • Prospective voters: People applying to register for a federal election would need to present specified documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when they apply, whether by mail, online, in person, or at the polling place. States must provide an alternate uniform affidavit under penalty of perjury for applicants who cannot produce documents.
  • State agencies and driver license offices: States would be required to verify citizenship during driver’s license issuance or renewal and to link those checks to voter registration records. The bill would require states to create programs to identify and remove noncitizens and sets implementation timing, including a 30-day program deadline and a 60-day early-adoption window.
  • Election officials, enforcement, and naturalization: The bill would expand criminal penalties and create a private right of action against officials who register applicants without required proof. It also directs the Department of Homeland Security to notify state election officials of naturalizations and preserves the ability to cast provisional ballots while citizenship is verified.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New proof-of-citizenship to register

If enacted, the bill would define which documents count as proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. It would bar a State from processing a federal voter registration unless the applicant shows one of those documents. If you mail the Federal form, you would often need to show proof in person by the State's deadline or at the polling place on election day. If you lack the listed documents, a State would let you sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury and submit other evidence for review. The Election Assistance Commission would have to issue guidance within 10 days and agencies could change registration forms faster because the Paperwork Reduction Act would not apply.

State and federal voter verification

If enacted, each State would have to set up a program within 30 days to find people on voter rolls who are not U.S. citizens. States could use DHS SAVE, the Social Security verification service, or DMV records to check citizenship. Federal agencies would have to give requested information to State election officials within 24 hours and could not charge fees. DHS would investigate and could start removal actions when someone is verified as not a U.S. citizen. You could still cast a provisional ballot in a federal election and have it counted if you are later verified as a U.S. citizen.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Mike Lee

UT • R

Cosponsors

  • Ted Cruz

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Thomas Tillis

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Tom Cotton

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Kevin Cramer

    ND • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • John Kennedy

    LA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Lindsey Graham

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Tommy Tuberville

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Cynthia Lummis

    WY • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Ron Johnson

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • John Cornyn

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Mike Crapo

    ID • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • John Hoeven

    ND • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Eric Schmitt

    MO • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • James Risch

    ID • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Dan Sullivan

    AK • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Bernie Moreno

    OH • R

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Jon Husted

    OH • R

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Ted Budd

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/12/2025

  • Roger Marshall

    KS • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Jim Banks

    IN • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Marsha Blackburn

    TN • R

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Rick Scott

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Joni Ernst

    IA • R

    Sponsored 4/28/2025

  • James Lankford

    OK • R

    Sponsored 4/28/2025

  • Tim Scott

    SC • R

    Sponsored 4/28/2025

  • Josh Hawley

    MO • R

    Sponsored 4/28/2025

  • Cindy Hyde-Smith

    MS • R

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • James Justice

    WV • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Bill Cassidy

    LA • R

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

  • Ashley Moody

    FL • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Tim Sheehy

    MT • R

    Sponsored 1/6/2026

  • Steve Daines

    MT • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Markwayne Mullin

    OK • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2026

  • Rand Paul

    KY • R

    Sponsored 1/12/2026

  • Mike Rounds

    SD • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2026

  • Katie Britt

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Bill Hagerty

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • David McCormick

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Deb Fischer

    NE • R

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Todd Young

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • John Barrasso

    WY • R

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Pete Ricketts

    NE • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • Jerry Moran

    KS • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • John Curtis

    UT • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • Shelley Capito

    WV • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • John Boozman

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • Roger Wicker

    MS • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2026

  • Chuck Grassley

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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