As Congress prepares for a potential government shutdown next month, House conservatives are seizing the moment to advance legislation aimed at securing election integrity. The key proposal at the center of this debate is the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. This bill aims to ensure that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote by mandating proof of citizenship at the polls.
The SAVE Act has already made headway in the House, where it passed with support from five Democrats alongside Republican members. However, its future in the Senate remains uncertain, given that it is controlled by Democrats. Despite this, there is significant momentum among House conservatives to include the SAVE Act in any Continuing Resolution (CR) that Congress might pass to prevent a government shutdown.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office has been actively working to dissuade House conservatives from attaching the SAVE Act to the CR. McConnell’s team argues that doing so could backfire, potentially provoking Senate Democrats to introduce their own controversial voting legislation. Despite these warnings, a growing chorus of House conservatives, including members of the Freedom Caucus such as Chip Roy, Scott Perry, and Andrew Clyde, are adamant that the CR must incorporate the SAVE Act.
Rep. Chip Roy has been vocal about this stance, asserting that including the SAVE Act in the CR is essential. He argues that radical progressive Democrats are pushing for election integrity loopholes, and insists that Republicans should use the CR as leverage to compel Senate leaders, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and McConnell, to address the issue. Roy and his allies believe that a government funding bill should not support a system that allows non-citizens to vote.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has confirmed that the SAVE Act is a significant topic of discussion within the Republican conference. He acknowledges that concerns about election integrity are widespread among GOP members and considers it a top priority. How Johnson navigates this situation will be crucial in maintaining conservative support and his position as Speaker.