Illinois advocates urge senate action on SAVE Act

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois election-integrity advocates are pushing the U.S. Senate to agree with a recent House move and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility America Act.

They say it will strengthen federal election safeguards by requiring proof of citizenship and improving voter-roll maintenance.

The legislation would require states to verify U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration, update voter rolls more frequently, and use federal databases to remove noncitizens, while allowing eligible voters who lack documents – such as a birth certificate or passport – to register using a sworn statement of citizenship or other approved forms of identification.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, voted in favor of the bill, calling it a commonsense step to strengthen election security and public confidence.

“My home state of Illinois, and others across our country, have failed to properly maintain their voter rolls and implement basic election security practices such as requiring voter ID. By establishing clear, consistent standards to verify voter eligibility, this legislation helps ensure that only the American people decide our elections,” LaHood said in a statement. “Protecting election integrity is fundamental to maintaining public trust and the SAVE America Act provides common sense measures to help secure our electoral process.”

In a Newsmax appearance, U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, also praised the measure, saying voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements are basic safeguards rather than barriers to participation.

“We’re just ensuring that the elections are fair and that only U.S. citizens are voting,” Miller said.

She rejected claims that such requirements would disproportionately affect rural or low-income voters, calling those arguments “highly offensive” and disconnected from reality.

Carol Davis, an Illinois election integrity advocate, said supporters view the legislation as a response to widespread public concern over election security.

“Our public servants who voted yes showed that they listened to the overwhelming support of we the people for this common-sense bill,” Davis said. “Those who voted against it confirmed that they want to make it easy to cheat.”

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate, where supporters say momentum is building. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is sponsoring the legislation in the upper chamber, and Senate Republican Leader John Thune has joined as a co-sponsor.

Davis said Senate action is critical to advancing the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk.

“We must keep up the pressure on the Senate,” Davis said. “We can’t allow them to hide behind procedural traditions as an excuse for not passing the SAVE America Act.”

Democrats have largely opposed the legislation, contending that proof-of-citizenship and voter-ID requirements could discourage eligible voters from participating.

“They are lying about people not being able to get IDs. I can tell you in Illinois, even illegals have IDs,” said Miller.

The House of Representatives approved the SAVE America Act by a 218–213 vote, with all Republicans voting in favor and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas the lone Democrat to support the measure.