Senator Mike Lee's SAVE Act Mandates Voter Citizenship Proof, Drawing Criticism Over Lack of Widespread Non-Citizen Voting Evidence

U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) recently asserted on social media that "the left doesn’t want the border enforced" and "opposes the SAVE Act" for "not good reasons," igniting further debate on immigration and election integrity. The tweet highlights a contentious legislative effort by Lee and other Republicans to mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections, aiming to prevent non-citizens from participating in the electoral process.The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, sponsored by Senator Lee in the Senate, seeks to amend the 1993 National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). This proposed legislation would require individuals to provide documentary evidence of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering to vote or updating their registration. Proponents argue this measure is crucial to secure federal elections against foreign interference.Senator Lee and his allies contend that non-citizens are being improperly registered, potentially allowing them to cast "illegitimate ballots." House Speaker Mike Johnson, a key supporter, stated, "We all know, intuitively, that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections." Lee has also suggested that current laws, influenced by a 2013 Supreme Court ruling, make it "shockingly easy" for non-citizens to vote if they are “willing to lie” on registration forms.However, critics widely dismiss claims of widespread non-citizen voting as unsubstantiated. A 2016 Brennan Center for Justice study found only an estimated 30 incidents of suspected non-citizen voting out of 23.5 million ballots, representing a minuscule 0.0001% of votes cast. Former Utah County Clerk Josh Daniels labeled such claims as "complete nonsense," emphasizing existing safeguards and severe legal penalties, including deportation, for non-citizens who falsely claim citizenship to vote.Despite the lack of empirical evidence for widespread non-citizen voting, the push for the SAVE Act remains a significant talking point for some conservatives, often linked to broader election integrity efforts and fundraising campaigns. Democrats have characterized the bill as "a solution in search of a problem," noting that federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting. The legislation faces substantial challenges in the Senate, requiring bipartisan support to advance.