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The SAVE America Act just passed the U.S. House. Does this bill increase election integrity or suppress eligible voters? Maybe both – but by how much and at what cost?
This bill aims to prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections, a problem that is virtually non-existent. Despite what some politicians claim for attention, there is no evidence this is a significant problem threatening election outcomes.
Noncitizen voting in federal and state elections is already illegal and carries severe penalties (imprisonment, deportation, fines). The numbers show it is extraordinarily rare. Utah recently found just one noncitizen among 2.1 million registered voters. Michigan identified just 16 ballots out of 5.7 million in 2024 cast by noncitizens – just 0.00028%. The Heritage Foundation reviewed billions of votes from 1999 to 2023 and found just 77 documented cases – far less than 0.000001%. That is not an election crisis. It shows the system works.
Sure, maybe the bill will reduce noncitizen voting by those teeny tiny percentages, but it will also make voting harder for many citizens. While many politicians like to claim noncitizen voting is a bigger problem, we need evidence, not speculation, if we’re going to change the rules of democracy and make it harder for citizens to vote.
The bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. That sounds simple, but many Americans lack easy access to the required documents. In most states, voters would need a passport or a birth certificate matching their current state ID; REAL IDs that actually indicate citizenship are only available in five states. More than half of Americans do not have a valid passport, which costs $165. Millions of women who changed their names at marriage have different names on their birth certificate and their current ID. The bill offers vague solutions for this, but no clear process. Many older Black and Indigenous Americans born outside of hospitals (often because they were not allowed inside) do not have birth certificates.
Clearly, this does not affect everyone equally. Wealthier Americans and those with flexible jobs will manage. Poorer citizens, elderly voters, rural residents, and many women will face disproportionate costs and barriers to obtaining required documentation. Voting is a constitutional right and duty, and access should not depend on time, money, gender, or race.
The bill would also impose major, unfunded burdens on election officials nationwide, forcing system overhauls just months before the 2026 elections – a recipe for confusion, not confidence. Many citizens may not have time to obtain the required documentation. This bill chases a virtually nonexistent problem while making voting harder for eligible citizens. There are better ways of reducing the rare cases of noncitizen voting without adding new barriers for citizens, like improving how government databases are cross-checked. Please urge Senators Barrasso and Lummis – and friends in other states – to oppose it, or at a minimum, delay implementation for a non-election year.
The Wyoming legislature passed a similar law in 2025 (HB156). Its impact on voting remains to be seen. Check your registration status ASAP! Kansas passed a similar bill that prevented the registration of 31,000 citizens after its implementation. A final word of caution: If this bill fails and the 2026 midterm elections disappoint President Trump, be prepared for he and his allies to blame it on noncitizen voting and this bill not passing – despite its extreme rarity. Baseless fraud claims are a familiar tactic.”
Thank you,
Joanna Harter
Lander, WY