Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has introduced a new bill to prevent illegal immigrants and noncitizens from voting in federal elections. This comes as Democrats are being accused of trying to find loopholes in laws that prohibit such actions.
Speaker Mike Johnson champions bill preventing illegal immigrants from casting votes https://t.co/vfTklJxcFc pic.twitter.com/L6LucAT1ip
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 9, 2024
The proposed legislation, called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, aims to amend a law from 1993 to require individuals to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Additionally, the bill would necessitate election officials to share voter information with the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to verify eligibility.
Mr. Johnson has highlighted the importance of addressing the perceived threat to the integrity of the U.S. election system, stating, “There is currently an unprecedented and a clear and present danger to the integrity of our election system, and that is the threat of noncitizens and illegal aliens voting in our elections.”
The House Speaker also emphasized the difficulty in accurately determining the number of noncitizens voting in federal elections and noted that the new bill could address this challenge. Mr. Johnson was joined by Trump White House figures, including former Department of Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli and former advisers Stephen Miller and Cleta Mitchell, who expressed their support for the bill.
It is anticipated that the bill may face resistance from Democrats in the Senate. Rep. Chip Roy, a co-author of the legislation, has underscored the core principle behind the bill, stating, “Should only citizens vote in the United States of America in federal elections? We’re going to call the question and we’ll see where they land.”
Overall, the SAVE Act seeks to reinforce laws that prevent noncitizens, including illegal immigrants, from participating in federal elections, as the issue of election integrity continues to be a prominent concern among conservative lawmakers.
