5 things to know about the SAVE America Act

3. What happens to those without required documentation? 

The legislation authorizes states to allow those who do not provide documentary proof of citizenship to sign an attestation under the penalty of perjury that they are a U.S. citizen and submit “other evidence” to a state or local official demonstrating that the applicant is a U.S. citizen.  

The state or local official is given the authority to determine whether the “other evidence” is sufficient to identify proof of citizenship as required by federal law, and must sign an affidavit swearing or affirming that the applicant met the requirements of the law. 

The law would task the Election Assistance Commission with creating a “uniform affidavit” that would “include an explanation of the minimum standards required for a State or local official to register an applicant who cannot provide documentary proof of United States citizenship to vote in elections for Federal office in the State” and ‘‘require the official to explain the basis for registering such applicant to vote in such elections.”