House Speaker Mike Johnson has made a controversial claim about voting in federal elections, stating during a press conference that "we all know, intuitively, that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections." This assertion comes as Republican lawmakers push forward with legislation that could dramatically reshape American voting accessibility.
The Save Act's Hidden Agenda
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, commonly known as the Save Act, presents itself as a measure to protect electoral integrity but appears designed to achieve precisely the opposite effect. This Republican-drafted legislation follows a familiar pattern where bill names directly contradict their actual intentions, potentially creating significant barriers to voting access for millions of Americans.
Documentation Requirements Create Voting Barriers
If enacted into law, the Save Act would mandate that American citizens provide specific citizenship documentation to register or re-register to vote. Acceptable documents would include birth certificates, passports, or similar proof of citizenship papers. This requirement presents substantial challenges for numerous voter groups across the nation.
According to research from the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 21 million American citizens lack easy access to these required documents. The disparity becomes particularly concerning when examining demographic breakdowns: while approximately 8% of white American citizens face document accessibility issues, the figure rises to nearly 11% among citizens of color.
Married Women Face Particular Hurdles
Women who changed their names upon marriage encounter additional complications under the proposed legislation. Reports indicate that as many as 69 million women who have taken their spouse's surname do not possess birth certificates matching their current legal names. The legislation fails to address whether marriage certificates or name-change documentation could serve as acceptable alternatives when combined with birth certificates.
The Center for American Progress, a liberal thinktank, has highlighted this oversight, noting that the Save Act's current language creates unnecessary obstacles for married women seeking to exercise their voting rights.
Historical Precedent and Current Momentum
Similar proof-of-citizenship legislation has been attempted previously, most notably in Kansas between 2013 and 2017. That implementation proved both expensive and ineffective, preventing more than 30,000 Kansans from participating in elections while failing to address any substantial voting integrity concerns.
Research consistently demonstrates that such voting restrictions disproportionately affect low-income individuals, disabled citizens, married women, and marginalized communities. Despite this evidence, Republican lawmakers continue to advance the Save Act through legislative channels.
Questionable Justifications for Restrictive Measures
Speaker Johnson's claims about widespread non-citizen voting lack substantial evidentiary support. Data from the Brennan Center for Justice examining the 2016 election revealed minimal incidents of suspected non-citizen voting, with just 30 suspected cases across 42 jurisdictions representing 23.5 million total votes - approximately 0.0001% of all ballots cast.
Non-citizen voting remains illegal under existing legislation, raising questions about the necessity of additional restrictive measures that primarily affect legitimate voters rather than addressing any documented systemic problem.
Legislative Progress and Political Context
The Save Act successfully passed through the House of Representatives in 2025 before stalling in the Senate. However, renewed momentum has emerged in recent months, with former President Donald Trump urging Republican lawmakers to implement national voter identification requirements ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has referenced developing an "even stronger" version of the Save Act, suggesting continued Republican commitment to voting restriction measures despite their potentially discriminatory impacts.
Broader Implications for Democratic Processes
The Save Act represents just one component of broader efforts to reshape American electoral systems. Additional measures include congressional redistricting initiatives and increasingly burdensome voting requirements that collectively undermine faith in democratic institutions.
These developments occur against a backdrop of declining confidence in electoral integrity, fueled by persistent but unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. The cumulative effect threatens to erode democratic participation through bureaucratic barriers rather than overt authoritarian measures.
As the midterm elections approach, the Save Act and similar legislation could significantly influence electoral outcomes by restricting voting access among demographic groups that traditionally face greater barriers to political participation. The legislation's progress through Congress warrants close monitoring as its potential implementation draws nearer.
