Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) is facing backlash after saying the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would make it “hard for any Democrat in any state to win any election,” a remark Republicans quickly pointed to as validation of their long-standing argument in favor of the election security measure.
Slotkin made the comments while criticizing the legislation during a recent town hall, where she argued it would disenfranchise eligible voters rather than strengthen election integrity.
The SAVE Act would require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, including documents such as a passport, a birth certificate paired with a government-issued photo ID, or other approved records.
The measure would also require states to work with federal agencies to identify and remove noncitizens from voter registration rolls and strengthen photo identification requirements at polling places.
The House passed the legislation earlier this year, but it remains stalled in the Senate.
Republican lawmakers and supporters of the SAVE Act have argued the legislation is needed to strengthen confidence in elections by ensuring that only eligible U.S. citizens participate in federal elections.
President Donald Trump has made passage of the bill a priority ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, arguing additional safeguards are necessary to protect the integrity of the voting system.
Republican lawmakers have argued that delays could leave states with limited time to adjust election procedures before the next federal contests, according to The Gateway Pundit.
Democrats have opposed the legislation, arguing that noncitizen voting is already illegal under federal law and that existing safeguards prevent widespread abuse.
They have said the bill could create unnecessary obstacles for eligible voters who may have difficulty obtaining or providing the required documents.
Slotkin has argued the proposal goes beyond traditional voter identification laws and could prevent lawful voters from casting ballots.
During her remarks, Slotkin also claimed the SAVE Act would “disenfranchise all married women,” arguing that women who changed their last names after marriage could face challenges if their current identification does not match their birth records.
Republican lawmakers disputed that argument, saying Americans routinely provide identity documentation for other government requirements.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R) called the claim “false,” while Utah Sen. Mike Lee (R) argued that similar documentation requirements already exist for employment verification.
Both lawmakers called for the Senate to pass the legislation, according to Breitbart.
Supporters of the SAVE Act have also cited criminal cases involving noncitizens accused of illegally voting as evidence that additional verification measures are needed.
Federal authorities have brought charges in several cases involving noncitizens accused of registering to vote or casting ballots in federal elections, including cases involving individuals who allegedly falsely claimed citizenship on voter registration forms.
Opponents of the legislation have countered that such cases are rare and do not represent widespread voter participation by noncitizens.
The legislation remains caught in a broader dispute over whether new eligibility requirements would strengthen elections or create new hurdles for voters.
Supporters say proof-of-citizenship requirements would help protect the electoral process, while opponents argue the requirements could create barriers for eligible voters.
The legislation remains stalled in the Senate as both parties continue to debate its potential impact on future elections.
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