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Sen. Mike Lee Calls for SAVE America Act Amid Widespread Non-Citizen Voter-Roll Errors
By Drooid · · How we work
Legislative Push Over Registration Mistakes
Sen. Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, has renewed criticism of both parties for failing to pass the SAVE America Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration and mandate photo ID at the polls. President Donald Trump has voiced support for the measure, which cleared the House but remains stalled in the Senate.
Scope of the Registration Errors
A Reuters investigation found that more than 30,000 self-identified non-citizens have been added to voter rolls nationwide since 2000. Errors were traced to software glitches and clerical oversights in states including California, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Virginia. New Jersey’s Democratic governor disclosed that 6,600 non-citizens were registered there, with fewer than 400 actually casting ballots. The Department of Homeland Security has alleged that over a quarter-million non-citizens may be registered in four key states, though the exact figure remains unverified.
Proposed Legislative Solution
The SAVE America Act would address both erroneous registrations and potential fraudulent voting by:
- Requiring registrants to verify citizenship and eligibility at registration.
- Mandating voter-ID and photo identification at polling places.
Official Support and Responses
Heritage Foundation senior legal fellow Don Palmer, an election-integrity specialist, argued that upgrading driver-license agencies’ citizenship verification could provide a practical path forward. He suggested that improving Real ID processes and state agency coordination might achieve bipartisan support without overhauling the entire system.
Potential Impact
Proponents contend that tighter verification could close loopholes that allow non-citizens to appear on voter rolls, thereby strengthening public confidence in elections. Critics, however, note that the data on actual voting by non-citizens is limited and that the bill’s enforcement mechanisms could impose new burdens on eligible voters. The debate continues as lawmakers weigh the balance between electoral integrity and accessibility.