When Congress reconvenes in early September, a nationwide initiative will commence in California, mandating proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Jenny Beth Martin, the founder of Tea Party Patriot Action (TPPA), discussed the importance of the American Voters Qualification Act, often referred to as the SAVE ACT, and shared insights about her group’s national bus tour during a recent Breitbart News interview.
“If this becomes law, it will require proof of citizenship to register to vote, which is not currently mandated by the National Voter Registration Act, known as the ‘Acts Voters Act,'” Martin noted.
She elaborated that while the Movement Voters Act allows individuals to register with just a driver’s license, it doesn’t require any proof of citizenship. “Yes, there are check boxes where you swear you’re a citizen under penalties of perjury, but no actual evidence is needed,” she said. “We really need to close that loophole to ensure actual proof of citizenship is necessary.”
The legal disputes surrounding non-citizen voter registration in Arizona have highlighted this issue, bringing attention to Martin’s concerns.
“There’s a loophole causing dysfunction in the state,” Martin stated, referencing a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that challenged the Motor Voters Act regarding Arizona’s voting rules. “The Court ruled that Arizona must accept the federal government’s form, which creates a situation where residents can vote for federal offices without having to prove citizenship. It’s really confusing and doesn’t make any sense.”
The SAVE ACT successfully passed the House twice but failed to gain enough support in the Senate before the end of the current Congress.
“It’s quite odd this isn’t yet federal law,” said Boyle.
According to a February 2024 investigation conducted by TPPA, a significant 87% of U.S. voters believe that proof of citizenship should be required for voter registration. However, only four House Democrats supported the bill in April.
Those Democrats were Jared Golden (ME), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Henry Cuellar (TX), and Ed Case (HI).
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced the SAVE ACT in the House, while Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) proposed a similar bill in the Senate.
“There’s clear bipartisan support among voters,” Martin pointed out, although she expressed concerns that Senate Majority Leader John Thune may not believe they could gather enough Democratic votes to bypass the filibuster.
She urged voters to contact their representatives to advocate for including these proposed measures in broader legislation to facilitate passage through Congress.
The TPPA bus tour is set to kick off on Monday in Garden Grove, California, with numerous stops planned in various states, culminating in Washington, D.C. on September 10th.
