A new Republican-backed effort to tighten voter registration rules has passed the House, with Montana representatives supporting the move. The SAVE America Act aims to enhance voter registration security. Critics argue it will make registration too difficult for many Americans. The bill now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.
Montana Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing endorsed the bill, emphasizing its necessity for election security. “I’m proud to stand on the side of common sense and use my vote to restore confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections,” Downing declared. The proposal mandates new voters to present proof of citizenship and requires states to verify voter lists using a Department of Homeland Security system.
Rep. Zinke stated, “Seventy percent of Americans support voter ID. The SAVE America Act is straightforward common sense. Only Americans should be voting in American elections, and each vote should only count once.” Yet, critics highlight that voter fraud is rare in the U.S. A Stanford University study argued that claims of voter fraud were “shockingly flimsy.” Moreover, 62 lawsuits contesting the 2020 election results failed.
The Brennan Center for Justice warns that the act could disenfranchise millions, as it requires Americans to provide documents like birth certificates for registration. An estimated 21 million Americans lack easy access to such documents. Alexander Rate from the ACLU of Montana noted many people cannot locate such documents easily.
The proposal also mandates that states check voter rolls against the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE program. However, the Brennan Center argues the database often returns inaccurate results. The Senate, where the act has previously faltered, will now deliberate on the bill. Sen. Steve Daines, a co-sponsor, supports the act, while Sen. Tim Sheehy did not provide comments.
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