House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) have introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on the steps of the Capitol. The legislation includes provisions to ensure that only United States citizens – not illegal immigrants – can vote in U.S. elections.
Speaker Johnson said that American voting procedures currently face a “clear and present danger” and must be addressed before the upcoming nationwide elections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson lauded the proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require proof of American citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.@SpeakerJohnson pic.twitter.com/aGvl76Rvqp
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) May 8, 2024
“We’re here this morning for a very important reason as you all know, because there is currently an unprecedented and clear and present danger to the integrity of our election system. And that is the threat of non-citizens and illegal aliens voting in our elections … Americans are deeply concerned about [election integrity] and it doesn’t matter where you live, and whether you live in a blue state or a red state, everyone’s concerned,” said Speaker Johnson.
He continued by blasting President Joe Biden (D) and his administration for allowing the border crisis that has seen an influx of undocumented migrants flooding the southern border.
“And due to the wide open border that the Biden administration has refused to close – in fact, that they engineered to open, we now have so many non-citizens in the country that if only one out of 100 of those voted, they would cast hundreds of thousands of votes … This is a dangerously high number and it is a great concern to millions and millions of Americans. It could obviously change the outcome of our elections,” the speaker stated.
Furthermore, Rep. Roy said “You can’t even make this stuff up” referring to the status quo surrounding election integrity.
“You’ve got to provide proof of citizenship…to register and to be able to vote.”
“It's purely constitutional.”
Rep. Roy introduces bill to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections🔥 pic.twitter.com/89elkPdLun
— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) May 8, 2024
“You just saw recently the news out of South Carolina where their own Health and Human Services, South Carolina HHS, confirmed that they are basically having to follow federal law to give registration forms to people when they come to get their welfare, to come get Medicaid when they’re here illegally,” said Rep. Roy. “You can’t even make this stuff up. Our bill would end that. Our bill would force the states to follow our laws and the federal government’s laws to be able to say, look, you’ve got to provide proof of citizenship to register and to be able to vote.”
The Texas congressman continued, “We think that’s a baseline if you’re voting in federal elections, it’s purely Constitutional.”
Moreover, Roy confirmed that despite being a legislator who supports a smaller federal government, this is necessary to move toward a more secure election system.
“Look, I’m a limited government guy. I don’t like the federal government telling states what to do. But in the United States, if you vote and you vote in federal elections, you’re determining the President of the United States. You better be a citizen. This is simple. This is not a hard question. Republicans should stand up and say you will be a citizen to vote in federal elections in the United States. That’s what our bill does.”
With the backing of the House Speaker, it is likely that this bill will be up for a vote on the floor of the lower chamber soon.
