I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8281 
To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof 
of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections 
for Federal office, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 7, 2024 
Mr. ROY (for himself, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. SCALISE, Mr. EMMER, Ms. 
STEFANIK, Ms. TENNEY, Mrs. HARSHBARGER, Mr. DONALDS, Mrs. MIL-
LER of Illinois, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mr. 
GRAVES of Louisiana, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. LAWLER, Ms. BOEBERT, 
Mr. BANKS, Mr. MOORE of Alabama, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. ARRINGTON, Mr. 
WILLIAMS of New York, Mr. LANGWORTHY, Mr. ELLZEY, Mr. GUEST, 
Mr. HERN, Mrs. HOUCHIN, Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California, Mr. WIL-
LIAMS of Texas, Mr. BIGGS, Mr. PALMER, Mr. FEENSTRA, Mr. NEHLS, 
Mr. BABIN, Mr. SELF, Mr. FALLON, Mr. CLOUD, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. 
HUNT, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Geor-
gia, Mr. MCCORMICK, Mr. CLYDE, Mr. BRECHEEN, Mr. BISHOP of North 
Carolina, Mr. BOST, Mrs. FISCHBACH, and Mr. PFLUGER) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administra-
tion 
A BILL 
To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to 
require proof of United States citizenship to register 
an individual to vote in elections for Federal office, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safeguard American 
Voter Eligibility Act’’ or the ‘‘SAVE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ENSURING ONLY CITIZENS ARE REGISTERED TO 
VOTE IN ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE. 
(a) DEFINITION
OF
DOCUMENTARY
PROOF
OF 
UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP.—Section 3 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20502) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘As used’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) IN 
GENERAL.—As used’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) DOCUMENTARY PROOF
OF UNITED STATES 
CITIZENSHIP.—As used in this Act, the term ‘documen-
tary proof of United States citizenship’ means, with re-
spect to an applicant for voter registration, any of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) A form of identification issued consistent 
with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 
that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United 
States. 
‘‘(2) A valid United States passport. 
‘‘(3) The applicant’s official United States mili-
tary identification card, together with a United 
States military record of service showing that the 
applicant’s place of birth was in the United States. 
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‘‘(4) A valid government-issued photo identifica-
tion card issued by a Federal, State or Tribal gov-
ernment showing that the applicant’s place of birth 
was in the United States. 
‘‘(5) A valid government-issued photo identifica-
tion card issued by a Federal, State or Tribal gov-
ernment other than an identification described in 
paragraphs (1) through (4), but only if presented to-
gether with one or more of the following: 
‘‘(A) A certified birth certificate issued by 
a State, a unit of local government in a State, 
or a Tribal government which— 
‘‘(i) was issued by the State, unit of 
local government, or Tribal government in 
which the applicant was born; 
‘‘(ii) was filed with the office respon-
sible for keeping vital records in the State; 
‘‘(iii) includes the full name, date of 
birth, and place of birth of the applicant; 
‘‘(iv) lists the full names of one or 
both of the parents of the applicant; 
‘‘(v) has the signature of an individual 
who is authorized to sign birth certificates 
on behalf of the State, unit of local govern-
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issued by the Federal government pursuant to 
the Immigration and Nationality Act. 
‘‘(F) An American Indian Card issued by 
the Department of Homeland Security with the 
classification ‘KIC’.’’. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Section 4 of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20503) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(b) REQUIRING APPLICANTS TO PRESENT DOCU-
MENTARY PROOF OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP.— 
Under any method of voter registration in a State, the 
State shall not accept and process an application to reg-
ister to vote in an election for Federal office unless the 
applicant presents documentary proof of United States 
citizenship with the application.’’. 
(c) REGISTRATION WITH APPLICATION FOR MOTOR 
VEHICLE DRIVER’S LICENSE.—Section 5 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504) is 
amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘Each 
State motor vehicle driver’s license application’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Subject to the requirements under section 
8(j), each State motor vehicle driver’s license appli-
cation’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘Each 
State shall include’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to the 
requirements under section 8(j), each State shall in-
clude’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(2)(B)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (ii), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(iii) verify that the applicant is a cit-
izen of the United States;’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)(2)(C)(i), by striking ‘‘(in-
cluding citizenship)’’ and inserting ‘‘, including the 
requirement that the applicant provides documentary 
proof of United States citizenship’’; and 
(5) in subsection (c)(2)(D)(iii), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘, other than as 
evidence in a criminal proceeding or immigration 
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proceeding brought against an applicant who know-
ingly attempts to register to vote and knowingly 
makes a false declaration under penalty of perjury 
that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements 
to register to vote in an election for Federal office; 
and’’. 
(d) REQUIRING DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF UNITED 
STATES CITIZENSHIP WITH NATIONAL MAIL VOTER 
REGISTRATION FORM.—Section 6 of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20505) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Each State shall accept 
and use’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to the require-
ments under section 8(j), each State shall ac-
cept and use’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Federal Election Commis-
sion’’ and inserting ‘‘Election Assistance Com-
mission’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 
following: ‘‘The chief State election official of a 
State shall take such steps as may be necessary to 
ensure that residents of the State are aware of the 
requirement to provide documentary proof of United 
States citizenship to register to vote in elections for 
Federal office in the State.’’; 
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(3) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) the person did not provide documentary 
proof of United States citizenship when registering 
to vote.’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) ENSURING PROOF OF UNITED STATES CITIZEN-
SHIP.— 
‘‘(1) PRESENTING PROOF OF UNITED STATES 
CITIZENSHIP TO ELECTION OFFICIAL.—An applicant 
who submits the mail voter registration application 
form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commis-
sion pursuant to section 9(a)(2) or a form described 
in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) shall not 
be registered to vote in an election for Federal office 
unless— 
‘‘(A) the applicant presents documentary 
proof of United States citizenship in person to 
the office of the appropriate election official not 
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later than the deadline provided by State law 
for the receipt of a completed voter registration 
application for the election; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a State which permits 
an individual to register to vote in an election 
for Federal office at a polling place on the day 
of the election and on any day when voting, in-
cluding early voting, is permitted for the elec-
tion, the applicant presents documentary proof 
of United States citizenship to the appropriate 
election official at the polling place not later 
than the date of the election. 
‘‘(2) NOTIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT.—Upon 
receiving an otherwise completed mail voter registra-
tion application form prescribed by the Election As-
sistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2) or 
a form described in paragraph (1) or (2) of sub-
section (a), the appropriate election official shall 
transmit a notice to the applicant of the requirement 
to present documentary proof of United States citi-
zenship under this subsection, and shall include in 
the notice instructions to enable the applicant to 
meet the requirement. 
‘‘(3) ACCESSIBILITY.—Each State shall, in con-
sultation with the Election Assistance Commission, 
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ensure that reasonable accommodations are made to 
allow an individual with a disability who submits the 
mail voter registration application form prescribed 
by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to 
section 9(a)(2) or a form described in paragraph (1) 
or (2) of subsection (a) to present documentary 
proof of United States citizenship to the appropriate 
election official.’’. 
(e) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
VOTER
REGISTRATION 
AGENCIES.—Section 7 of the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (4)(A), by adding at the 
end the following new clause: 
‘‘(iv) Receipt of documentary proof of 
United States citizenship of each applicant to 
register to vote in elections for Federal office in 
the State.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (6)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(i)(I), by strik-
ing ‘‘(including citizenship)’’ and inserting 
‘‘, including the requirement that the ap-
plicant provides documentary proof of 
United States citizenship’’; and 
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(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(B) as subparagraph (C); and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(A) the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) ask the applicant the question, ‘Are you a 
citizen of the United States?’ and if the applicant 
answers in the affirmative require documentary 
proof of United States citizenship prior to providing 
the form under subparagraph (C);’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ‘‘who are 
citizens of the United States’’ after ‘‘for persons’’. 
(f) REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO ADMINISTRA-
TION OF VOTER REGISTRATION.—Section 8 of the Na-
tional Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘In the administration of 
voter registration’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to 
the requirements of subsection (j), in the ad-
ministration of voter registration’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraphs: 
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‘‘(D) based on documentary proof or 
verified information that the registrant is not a 
United States citizen; or 
‘‘(E) the registration otherwise fails to 
comply with applicable State law;’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (j) as sub-
section (l); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (i) the fol-
lowing new subsections: 
‘‘(j) ENSURING ONLY CITIZENS ARE REGISTERED 
TO VOTE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this Act, a State may not register an in-
dividual to vote in elections for Federal office held 
in the State unless, at the time the individual ap-
plies to register to vote, the individual provides docu-
mentary proof of United States citizenship. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
PROCESSES
IN
CERTAIN 
CASES.— 
‘‘(A) PROCESS FOR THOSE WITHOUT DOC-
UMENTARY PROOF.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to any rel-
evant guidance adopted by the Election As-
sistance Commission, each State shall es-
tablish a process under which an applicant 
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who cannot provide documentary proof of 
United States citizenship under paragraph 
(1) may, if the applicant signs an attesta-
tion under penalty of perjury that the ap-
plicant is a citizen of the United States 
and eligible to vote in elections for Federal 
office, submit such other evidence to the 
appropriate State official demonstrating 
that the applicant is a citizen of the 
United States and such official shall make 
a determination as to whether the appli-
cant has sufficiently established United 
States citizenship for purposes of reg-
istering to vote in elections for Federal of-
fice in the State. 
‘‘(ii) AFFIDAVIT REQUIREMENT.—If a 
State official makes a determination under 
clause (i) that an applicant has sufficiently 
established United States citizenship for 
purposes of registering to vote in elections 
for Federal office in the State, such deter-
mination shall be accompanied by an affi-
davit developed under clause (iii) signed by 
the official swearing or affirming the appli-
cant sufficiently established United States 
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citizenship for purposes of registering to 
vote. 
‘‘(iii) DEVELOPMENT
OF
AFFIDAVIT 
BY
THE
ELECTION
ASSISTANCE
COMMIS-
SION.—The Election Assistance Commis-
sion shall develop a uniform affidavit for 
use by State officials under clause (ii), 
which shall— 
‘‘(I) include an explanation of the 
minimum standards required for a 
State official to register an applicant 
who 
cannot 
provide 
documentary 
proof of United States citizenship to 
vote in elections for Federal office in 
the State; and 
‘‘(II) require the official to ex-
plain the basis for registering such 
applicant to vote in such elections. 
‘‘(B) PROCESS IN CASE OF CERTAIN DIS-
CREPANCIES IN DOCUMENTATION.—Subject to 
any relevant guidance adopted by the Election 
Assistance Commission, each State shall estab-
lish a process under which an applicant can 
provide such additional documentation to the 
appropriate election official of the State as may 
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be necessary to establish that the applicant is 
a citizen of the United States in the event of a 
discrepancy with respect to the applicant’s doc-
umentary proof of United States citizenship. 
‘‘(3) STATE REQUIREMENTS.—Each State shall 
take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure 
that only United States citizens are registered to 
vote under the provisions of this Act, which shall in-
clude the establishment of a program described in 
paragraph (4) not later than 30 days after the date 
of the enactment of this subsection. 
‘‘(4) PROGRAM DESCRIBED.—A State may meet 
the requirements of paragraph (3) by establishing a 
program under which the State identifies individuals 
who are not United States citizens using information 
supplied by one or more of the following sources: 
‘‘(A) The Department of Homeland Secu-
rity through the Systematic Alien Verification 
for Entitlements (‘SAVE’) or otherwise. 
‘‘(B) The Social Security Administration 
through 
the 
Social 
Security 
Number 
Verification Service, or otherwise. 
‘‘(C) State agencies that supply State iden-
tification cards or drivers licenses where the 
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agency confirms the United States citizenship 
status of applicants. 
‘‘(D) Other sources, including databases, 
which provide confirmation of United States 
citizenship status. 
‘‘(5) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—At the request of a 
State election official (including a request re-
lated to a process established by a State under 
paragraph (2)(A) or (2)(B)), the Secretary of 
Homeland Security and the Commissioner of 
the Social Security Administration shall, not 
later than 30 days after receipt of such request, 
provide the official with such information as 
may be necessary to enable the official to verify 
that an applicant for voter registration in elec-
tions for Federal office held in the State or a 
registrant on the official list of eligible voters in 
elections for Federal office held in the State is 
a citizen of the United States, which shall in-
clude providing the official with such batched 
information as may be requested by the official. 
‘‘(B) USE
OF
SAVE
SYSTEM.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security may respond to a 
request received under paragraph (1) by using 
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