The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require individuals to present in-person proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering to vote in federal elections. The bill seeks to formalize an executive order issued in March 2024 by President Donald J. Trump to strengthen election security nationwide.
The bill was reintroduced by Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA), who stated the legislation is “commonsense” and critical for “ensuring only American citizens can vote in American elections.” It was also supported by Georgia Republicans Rep. Barry Loudermilk (whose district includes parts of Cobb County), Rep. Mike Collins, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene—who represents parts of southwest Cobb County.
“During the Biden-Harris administration, millions of illegal immigrants have entered the country,” said Allen. “The SAVE Act ensures American elections are decided by American citizens. It’s beyond disappointing to see 208 House Democrats oppose legislation to secure our elections.”
Support from Georgia Officials and Cobb County Leaders
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr praised the bill, tweeting: “Last year, we stood with 21 Attorneys General urging Congress to pass the SAVE Act. In Georgia, noncitizen voting is already illegal. This is a commonsense approach that should be nationwide.”
Cobb County’s Salleigh Grubbs, a vocal advocate for election integrity and former Cobb GOP Chair, welcomed the vote as a “step toward restoring trust in federal elections.”
Several Cobb County elected officials have also voiced their support:
- Sen. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth): “Election integrity is non-negotiable. The SAVE Act is necessary to keep our elections secure.”
- Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell): “This is a critical safeguard that reinforces voter confidence.”
- Rep. Don Parsons (R-Marietta): “Georgians already prove their citizenship—this legislation simply ensures the same standard applies federally.”
Cobb County Democrats Push Back
Several Democratic legislators from Cobb County oppose the SAVE Act, arguing that it could discourage lawful voter participation and addresses a problem already solved in Georgia.
- Rep. David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs): “This bill imposes barriers that could disenfranchise eligible voters, especially in minority communities.”
- Rep. Mary Frances Williams (D-Marietta): “Georgia already verifies citizenship, we don’t need redundant federal overreach.”
- Former Rep. Teri Anulewicz (D-Smyrna): “It’s a solution in search of a problem, and it creates confusion.”
- Sen. Michael Rhett (D-Marietta): “We should be removing obstacles to voting, not adding more.”
Georgia’s Current Citizenship Verification
In Georgia, voter citizenship is confirmed using Real ID-compliant documents on file with the state. If discrepancies arise, officials use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to verify status.
SAVE Act Highlights
If enacted, the SAVE Act would:
- Require in-person proof of citizenship to register for federal elections.
- Mandate that states remove non-citizens from existing voter rolls with federal support.
- Direct states to offer reasonable accommodations for disabled voters or those with name changes (e.g., through marriage).
The bill passed in a bipartisan vote of 221–198 in the House and now heads to the Senate for consideration, where Georgia’s Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) are expected to weigh in.
