House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would make it harder for noncitizens to vote by requiring a Real ID or U.S. passport instead of a driver's license.
According to The New Republic, Johnson cited debunked data to support his law that prevents noncitizens from voting, even though it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote.
The SAVE Act aims to require a Real ID or U.S. passport for voting instead of a standard driver's license. This bill passed the Republican-led House on Wednesday but is unlikely to succeed in the Senate or be signed by President Biden.
House Speaker Mike Johnson circulated a white paper with claims about undocumented immigrants voting, igniting a debate on the bill's necessity and validity.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose ordered 137 noncitizens removed from the state’s voter rolls. However, he did not provide evidence of illegal voting. In a May press release, LaRose acknowledged that some individuals could have been included as a result of an honest mistake.
According to LaRose, noncitizens could be mistakenly registered due to communication barriers or paperwork errors. Federal law mandates that the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers voter registration forms to state residents, leading to some forms being filled out by noncitizens. These forms could be mistakenly processed if noncitizens marked themselves as ineligible to vote or have been naturalized but haven't updated their status at the BMV.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, in 2016, noncitizens composed only 0.0001 percent of the votes cast. This statistic underscores the minimal impact noncitizen voting has on elections, challenging the basis for the SAVE Act. Critics argue that the bill is grounded in a right-wing conspiracy about widespread voter fraud.
The SAVE Act is anticipated to fail in the Democratic-led Senate. President Joe Biden has promised to veto the SAVE Act if it reaches his desk. This stance reflects the broader Democratic opposition to the bill, which they see as an unnecessary restriction on voting rights.
Republicans, however, might use the failure of the SAVE Act to claim widespread voter fraud in upcoming elections. This tactic, despite the lack of supporting numbers, could influence public perception and future legislative efforts. The debate over voter fraud and election integrity remains a contentious issue in American politics.
Frank LaRose addressed the issue of noncitizens on voter rolls, stating, “These may be well-meaning people trying to pursue the American dream, and communication barriers sometimes result in a registration form being submitted in error.” His comments highlight the potential for honest mistakes in the voter registration process and the need for clear communication and support for new residents.
The broader implications of the SAVE Act extend beyond its immediate legislative fate. The debate it has sparked touches on fundamental issues of voting rights, citizenship, and the integrity of the electoral process. While the bill is unlikely to become law, it has succeeded in bringing these issues to the forefront of public discourse.
The Republican-led push for the SAVE Act, despite its dubious foundations, reflects ongoing efforts to tighten voting regulations. These efforts are often framed as necessary to prevent voter fraud, though evidence of such fraud is exceedingly rare. The conversation around the SAVE Act exemplifies the polarized nature of the American political debate on election integrity.
In summary, The SAVE Act aims to change voting requirements based on unproven claims of voter fraud. The bill's passage in the House, despite its expected failure in the Senate and President Biden's promised veto, highlights the ongoing partisan conflict over voting rights and election integrity. As the debate continues, it is evident that the issue of voter fraud, whether real or perceived, will remain a crucial point of contention in American politics.
