McCaul Defends Citizen-Only Voting in U.S. Elections

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Homeland Security — voted for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation he also cosponsored. The SAVE Act would strengthen federal law by requiring proof of American citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

“President Biden’s open border policies and mass amnesty efforts are destroying the fabric of our nation," said Rep. McCaul. "It’s no surprise he and radical Democrats oppose the SAVE Act, commonsense legislation to ensure only American citizens have a say in federal elections. I’m proud to support this must-pass bill to close loopholes that invite fraudulent non-citizen voting, restore Americans’ confidence in U.S. elections, and provide another line of defense against the Biden White House’s attempts to win elections by whatever means necessary.”

Background:

Federal law — the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 — states that it is illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, yet the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) does not require states to verify citizenship upon registration. This has led to noncitizen voting in several states, including Massachusetts, Ohio, and Virginia.

The SAVE Act would amend the NVRA to ensure that only American citizens can vote in federal elections. Specifically, it would:

• Require proof of citizenship — in person — when registering to vote in federal elections; and 
• Provide states with access to existing federal databases and require them to remove noncitizens from their rolls.

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