Biden administration opposes bill that would require PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP for voting in federal elections

 The administration of President Joe Biden is opposing a new proposal by House Republicans to mandate presenting proof of citizenship when registering to vote. The White House claims doing so would only complicate the voting process for eligible Americans.

House Resolution 8281, dubbed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require voters to present documentary proof of citizenship, such as a driver's license, passport, government-issued photo ID, military IDs, a bit certificate or any other form of identification, to cast their ballots.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) in the House and supported by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) in the Senate, claims that current laws are insufficient to prevent voter fraud and that additional measures are needed to ensure election integrity.

Roy and Lee cite reports that government agencies in 49 states are providing voter registration forms to illegal aliens without requiring proof of citizenship. They also point to instances where noncitizens have been able to register to vote and even some cases where illegal aliens have publicly announced their intention to vote in upcoming elections.

"Secure elections are a key cornerstone for any representative government; without them, we won't have a country. Radical progressive Democrats know this and are using open border policies while also attacking election integrity laws to fundamentally remake America. That's why I am proud to introduce the SAVE Act with Speaker Johnson and my Republican colleagues, along with the invaluable support of citizens and organizations that recognize we must end the practice of non-citizens voting in our elections," said Roy in a statement. 

Democrats claim elections are already secure, move to block SAVE Act from passing

But despite all the valid arguments, the Biden administration contended that the bill is unnecessary because it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. The administration also stressed that existing state safeguards are effective in verifying voter eligibility and maintaining accurate voter rolls.  

"It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections – it is a federal crime punishable by prison and fines. The alleged justification for this bill is based on easily disproven falsehoods. Additionally, making a false claim of citizenship or unlawfully voting in an election is punishable by removal from the United States and a permanent bar to admission. States already have effective safeguards in place to verify voters' eligibility and maintain the accuracy of voter rolls," a statement from the White House opposing the SAVE Act read.

"This bill would do nothing to safeguard our elections, but it would make it much harder for all eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk that eligible voters are purged from voter rolls."

As part of their opposition, Democrats have announced plans to mobilize significant resources to block the SAVE Act from passing in the House. They even argued that it unfairly targets vulnerable populations and could disenfranchise many eligible voters.

"As we've seen a number of times this Congress, House Republicans continue to irresponsibly call into question the credibility of our elections. Despite numerous recounts, challenges in court, and deep dives by conservative think tanks, there has been zero evidence of the widespread fraud that this bill purports to target. It is already illegal under current law for noncitizens to register to vote or to vote in federal elections," the office of House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), wrote in a "whip question."

The whip vote rounds up this coming week's votes and outlines guidance regarding how Democratic House members should vote. "Democrats are urged to VOTE NO on H.R. 8281," the whip question stated.