Understanding the SAVE America Act: What It Would Actually Change

By Cindy Wells

Like many people following election legislation, there is confusion between two similarly named bills:

• The SAVE Act (H.R.22)

• The SAVE America Act (H.R.7296)

They sound almost identical don’t they?. They are not. And the differences matter – to over 50% of the US population.

How the Confusion Happens:

The original SAVE Act focused primarily on voter registration. Its central proposal: present proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. It did not changing voting procedures. It did not require new ID at polling places.

The SAVE America Act, however, goes significantly further. It includes:

• Citizenship verification for registration

• New voter ID requirements for casting ballots

This is where the impact expands dramatically! If enacted as written, the SAVE America Act would affect two different stages of the voting process:

1. Voter Registration (this is the part from the original SAVE Act)

Applicants would be required to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when:

• Registering to vote

• Updating voter registration information

Acceptable documents may include:

• U.S. Passport

• Birth Certificate (with ID)

• Naturalization documents

• Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL)

2. Voting Procedures

This is where the SAVE America Act introduces major new changes. The bill includes an “eligible photo identification document” required for voting. This includes all types or manners of voting – in person, absentee, mail-in, etc. That ID must contain:

• A photograph

• Identification number / SSN digits

• Indication on the front that the holder is a U.S. citizen

Why does this definition matter? Because most commonly used IDs do not meet this

requirement!

IDs no longer valid for voting:

• Standard driver’s licenses (read that one again. Then read it again. Let that sink in.)

• REAL ID-compliant licenses (that little star on a driver’s license does NOT make it valid for voting under the SAVE America Act.)

• Most state-issued IDs

These forms of identification are not valid because they verify identity, but do not indicate citizenship! The REAL ID star, for example, signals federal security compliance — not citizenship status.

What IDs would likely qualify?

• U.S. Passport

• Passport Card

• Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) (See below on limited availability for this type license)

• Certain Tribal IDs

• Possibly some federal IDs

Enhanced Driver’s Licenses are currently available only in:

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• New York

• Vermont

• Washington

Let’s state that again - A standard driver’s license alone is not sufficient for voting in federal elections.

While most states already require ID be presented for voting, this represents a significant departure from most existing state voter ID laws because the ID most people have been using (i.e. driver’s license) is no longer acceptable. This impacts mail-in or absentee voting as well. Absentee ballot requests would require a copy of eligible photo ID. Mail-in ballot submissions would also a copy of eligible photo ID.

The scope and magnitude of this change is undeniable. It changes how elections are administered which currently resides at the state and local government level.

Large-scale procedural changes would require:

• Statutory updates

• Technology modifications

• Worker training

• Voter education

• Expanded ID issuance capacity

Final Thoughts:

The SAVE America Act is not simply a voter registration bill. It is a voter registration + voting procedures bill. If enacted as written, its voter ID provisions would likely impact nearly every voter participating in federal elections. And the goal? To suppress voters from doing what is a right under our Constitution – vote.