5 things to know about the SAVE America Act

5. Consequences for failure to abide by the law 

The legislation would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to provide a private right of action against “an election official who registers an applicant to vote in an election for Federal office who fails to present documentary proof of United States citizenship.”

Anyone alleging a violation of the new law must provide “written notice of the violation to the chief election official of the State involved.”

The legislation would impose criminal penalties on any officer of the executive branch who provides “material assistance to a noncitizen in attempting to register to vote or vote in an election for Federal office” or anyone who registers “an applicant to vote in an election for Federal office who fails to present documentary proof of United States citizenship” in the form of fines and/or a prison term of five years or less. 

As for noncitizens who register to vote, the legislation would authorize the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct an investigation to determine whether to initiate removal proceedings against illegal immigrants who are illegally registered to vote.