"WASHINGTON -- House Republicans rushed to approve legislation on Wednesday that would impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements ahead of the midterm elections, a long shot Trump administration priority that faces sharp blowback in the Senate. The bill, called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, would require Americans to prove they are citizens when they register to vote, mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate. It would also require a valid photo identification before voters can cast ballots, which some states already demand. It was approved on a mostly party-line vote, 218-213."
"Republicans said the legislation is needed to prevent voter fraud, but Democrats warn it will disenfranchise millions of Americans by making it harder to vote. Federal law already requires that voters in national elections be U.S. citizens, but there's no requirement to provide documentary proof. Experts said voter fraud is extremely rare, and very few noncitizens ever slip through the cracks. Fewer than one in 10 Americans don't have paperwork proving they are citizens."
The SAVE America Act would require U.S. citizenship proof—primarily a passport or birth certificate—when registering to vote and a valid photo ID to cast a ballot. The House approved the measure 218-213, largely along party lines. Republicans argue the requirements are necessary to prevent voter fraud and to enforce laws barring noncitizens from voting. Democrats and voting-rights advocates warn the rules would disenfranchise millions by creating new barriers to participation. Experts note federal law already requires citizenship for national elections, that voter fraud is extremely rare, and that fewer than one in 10 Americans lack citizenship documentation.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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