STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A bill that would require Americans to show proof of citizenship is now on its way to the Senate.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, nicknamed the SAVE America Act, is championed by President Donald Trump.
If passed, the act would necessitate in-person federal voter registration so that the government can confirm the voter’s proof of citizenship.
On federal Election Days, voters would need to bring a permitted form of picture identification in order to prove their identity. Mail-in ballots would need to be accompanied by a copy of said picture identification both when applying for the ballot and upon submission.
There is a bipartisan split in perspectives: Democrats believe it will make it harder for younger Americans, married Americans as they change their legal name from identification like birth certificates, and Americans of color to register to vote.
Not every American has readily available access to important documents like birth certificates, and not every American has a driver’s license.
Republicans, despite data proving that non-citizen voting is atypical, point to the “safeguarding” portion of the act’s name.
The Brennan Center wrote: “The ‘show your papers’ requirement is an attack on the freedom to vote.”
Presently, voter registration practices are up to individual states.
Prior iterations of the SAVE Act failed to gain traction in Congress. This version will need at least 60 senators to vote in favor of it before it can reach Trump’s desk.