Background
OnMarch25,2025,PresidentTrumpsignedanexecutiveorderthatchanges theNationalVoterRegistrationFormrequirementstoincludedocumentary proofofcitizenshipandIDverificationbystateorlocalelectionofficials.Under thisorder,prospectivevoterswouldhavetobringtheirbirthcertificateor passporttotheirpollingstationinordertoregistertovote.Thiscreates significanthurdlesformarginalizedgroups.Forexample,womenwho changedtheirnamesaftergettingmarriedwillnotbeabletousetheirbirth certificatetoverifytheircitizenship.Inaddition,onlyone-thirdofBlack Americanscurrentlyownapassport.Obtainingonecostsover$150andcan takeatleastsixweekstoarrive.Theorderwillalsomakeitmoredifficultfor transgenderpeople,students,anddisabledpeopletovote.
SincePresidentTrumpissuedtheorder,19statesandmorethanfive organizations,includingtheDemocraticNationalCommittee,havefiled lawsuitsagainsthisAdministration.TheplaintiffsassertthatthePresident doesnothavetheauthoritytodirecttheElectionAssistanceCommissionto changethenationalvoterregistrationformbecauseitisanindependent agency.Additionally,thestateattorneysgeneralarguethattheexecutive branchdoesnothavetheauthoritytodictateelectionoperations.The Constitutiongrantsstatestherighttodeterminehowelectionsare administeredandCongresstheabilitytooverridethoselaws,fuelingthe states’claimthattheexecutiveorderisunenforceable.Voteradvocacy organizationsarealsoarguingthattheorderwillleadtodiscriminationatthe pollsandpurgesoflawfulvoters.TheCongressionalVotingRightsCaucusand severalcivilrightsorganizationshavecondemnedtheorderforcreating barrierstovotingrightsandaccessibility.
POLICYUPDATE
Despiteover200HouseDemocratsvotingagainstit,theU.S.Houseof RepresentativespassedtheSafeguardAmericanVoterEligibility(SAVE)Act onApril10,2025.TheSAVEActwouldrequirein-personverificationof citizenshipdocumentsforvoterregistrationandcodifyseveralofthe executiveorder’sprovisionsintolaw.ThisisnotRepublicanlawmakers’first attemptatpassingthislegislation.In2024,theSAVEActpassedinthe Housebutcouldnotsurpassthe60-votefilibusterthresholdinthe Democrat-majoritySenate.Thistime,theRepublicanmajoritycanbringthe billtothefloor.
HouseRepublicanspresentedthislegislationasameanstoprevent undocumentedimmigrantsfromvoting,thoughnon-citizenvotingis incrediblyrare.TheHeritageFoundation,theconservativethinktank responsibleforProject2025,auditedelectionresultsfromthelast40years andfoundfewerthan25totalincidencesofnon-citizenvotingoutofover onebillionlawfulvotescast.Moreover,votinghasbeenillegalfornoncitizensinallfiftystatessince1924.In1996,Congressenactedlegislation thatmaderegisteringtovoteasanon-citizenafederalcrimewitha penaltyofuptofiveyearsinprison.DespiteclaimsfromPresidentTrump andotherRepublicanleaders,non-citizenvotinghasnothadanimpacton U.S.electionresults.
TheSAVEActhasfar-reachingconsequencesbeyondpreventing undocumentedimmigrantsfromvoting.ThebillwouldamendtheNational VoterRegistrationActandeffectivelyendautomaticvoterregistration, onlinevoterregistration,voterregistrationdrives,andmail-invoter registration.Ifenacted,electionofficialscouldfacelegalactionforfailingto verifycitizenship.ThisbillwoulddisproportionatelyimpactBlackAmericans andlikelysuppressvoterturnoutsignificantlyinupcomingelections.
TheSAVEActhasreachedtheSenate,butitisnotyetlaw.Inadditiontothe Republicancaucus,SenateMajorityLeaderJohnThunewouldneedseven DemocraticSenatorstovoteforthebill.Atthistime,noDemocraticSenators haveindicatedthattheywoulddoso.InaspeechonApril30,2025,Senate MinorityLeaderChuckSchumer(D-NY)declaredthebill“deadonarrival.” Nevertheless,thislegislationisanalarmingindicatoroftheprecarious statusofvotingrightsintheUnitedStates.
