The SAVE Act - H.R. 8281
Heard of the SAVE Act? It’s not law yet, but you should know what it is because if it passes it will change the voter registration process for everyone. Please feel free to share.
What it does…requires documented proof of citizenship when you register to vote, from all of us, even if you moved and have to reregister.
It's worth noting, it is already illegal for non U.S. Citizens to vote, and very few have tried. Link below for the facts on that.
The SAVE Act also eliminates the ability to register to vote online, by mail, or during a voter registration drive.
Documentation the SAVE ACT will require:
• Birth certificate AND Government issued photo ID. THE NAMES MUST MATCH.
Have you changed your name since you were born? Do you have your birth certificate?
If the SAVE ACT is made law, and your birth certificate isn’t handy or you changed your name, here is a list of additional documentation you may need:
• Passport
• Government-issued photo ID card that INCLUDES PLACE OF BIRTH
• Real ID compliant identification
• Military ID - IF presented alongside A UNITED STATES MILITARY RECORD OF SERVICE SHOWING THAT THE APPLICANT'S PLACE OF BIRTH WAS IN THE UNITED STATES.
• adoption decree
• U.S. hospital birth records
• consulate birth reports
• naturalization certificates and
• American Indian Cards with the classification "KIC," which denotes U.S. citizenship for Mexican-born members of the Kickapoo tribes of Texas and Oklahoma.
It should also be noted that New Jersey Legislators (all State Legislators) will have limited oversight into the process as stated in the ACT:
“…each State shall establish a process under which an applicant who cannot provide documentary proof of United States citizenship under paragraph (1) may, if the applicant signs an attestation under penalty of perjury that the applicant is a citizen of the United States and eligible to vote in elections for Federal office, submit such other evidence to the appropriate State or local official demonstrating that the applicant is a citizen of the United States and such official shall make a determination as to whether the applicant has sufficiently established United States citizenship for purposes of registering to vote in elections for Federal office in the State.”
What we know: The SAVE Act passed the House of Representatives in 2024, but not the Senate. In 2025 it will have to be reintroduced in the House and pass the Senate by 3/5ths votes, which will require some Democratic support.
More information below:
https://www.brennancenter.org/.../save-act-would...
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8281
https://bipartisanpolicy.org/.../four-things-to-know.../
https://www.snopes.com/.../2025/02/13/save-act-women-voting/