5 things to know about the SAVE America Act

4. Additional requirements imposed on states

In addition to requiring “documentary proof of citizenship” for voting, the legislation would prohibit states from accepting voter registration applications unless the applicant provides “documentary proof of citizenship.” The bill also requires applicants who fill out the mail voter registration application form to present “documentary proof of United States citizenship in person” to the appropriate election official. 

To ensure that only citizens are registered to vote in federal elections, states are required to identify non-citizens on their voter rolls by using one or more sources including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, the Social Security Administration’s Social Security Number Verification Service or “state agencies that supply State identification cards or driver’s licenses where the agency confirms the United States citizenship status of applicants.”

States would have 30 days after enactment of the legislation to establish a program to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote. States are also required to remove individuals from voter rolls if they receive information that they are not citizens.