By David Morgan
WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump is pressing Congress to pass sweeping election-security legislation that he calls his “No. 1 priority” for Congress this year, though it is expected to fall short in the Senate. Democrats and independent analysts say the so-called SAVE America Act, which requires proof of U.S. citizenship in voting, could disenfranchise Americans in November who lack ready access to passports, birth certificates and other forms of identification.
Here is a description of the bill’s main provisions.
PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP
The legislation requires people registering to vote in a federal election to present documentary proof that they are U.S. citizens, such as a passport or a birth certificate. The documents must be presented in person. Trump says voting by non-citizens could undermine Republican candidates in the November midterm elections, when control of the House of Representatives and the Senate is at stake.
Independent investigations and state audits have repeatedly shown that non-citizen voting is extremely rare in U.S. elections. Some analysts say this could disproportionately affect Republican-leaning groups like married women and people who live in rural areas.
PHOTO ID FOR VOTING
Voters would be required to provide a valid physical photo ID, such as a state driver’s license, or include a copy of the ID and the last three digits of their Social Security numbers with mail-in ballots. Thirty-six states have laws requiring or requesting that voters present some form of identification to vote, though some allow student IDs, hunting and fishing licenses and other cards not allowed by the SAVE America Act.
Lawmakers warn that some tribal IDs would also require additional identification, such as a birth certificate or hospital birth record. Democrats argue that the photo ID requirement could disenfranchise some voters. But some states that have tightened voting requirements in recent years, such as Georgia, have seen record turnout.
DHS ACCESS TO STATE VOTER ROLLS
The bill requires states to submit complete official voter registration lists to the Department of Homeland Security, allowing federal officials to verify the immigration status of people already registered to vote. States would then be required to remove any non-citizens found on the rolls. Democracy advocates say the procedure could misidentify eligible voters as non-citizens, leading to their removal from voting rolls and possible prosecution.
States have generally resisted previous requests for voter data by the Trump Administration, and the U.S. Constitution gives state legislatures primary authority over election administration.
TRUMP AMENDMENTS ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS
Trump is calling on Congress to add provisions banning transgender women from women’s sports, outlawing “transgender mutilation of our children” and restricting mail-in ballots except in cases of illness, disability, military service or travel. About 30% of people who voted in the 2024 election, or some 48 million voters, used mail-in ballots. Despite the president’s claims that mail-in voting benefits Democrats and leads to voter fraud, Republicans have long advocated the voting method for their voters.
CRIMINAL CHARGES AND LAWSUITS
Election officials who register people without proof of citizenship could face criminal charges, and the bill allows individuals to sue if they feel the restrictions are not being properly enforced.
(Reporting by David Morgan; editing by Andy Sullivan and David Gaffen)
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