Bill > SJR128

Introduced Session

This joint resolution urges the US Senate to pass the federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act." To be eligible to vote in federal elections, voters must be US citizens. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), referred to as the "motor voter law," was enacted to make it easier for American citizens to register to vote by requiring states to allow individuals to register to vote when applying for or renewing their driver's licenses. However, efforts to streamline voter registration with states' departments of motor vehicles have resulted in state agencies mistakenly registering noncitizens to vote in federal elections. While the prevalence of voting by noncitizens is unknown, the shortcomings of voter registration systems have eroded public confidence in the integrity of federal elections, with over a quarter of Americans surveyed reporting concerns about counting ineligible votes, including votes cast by noncitizens, in the 2024 presidential election. Currently, federal law does not require documentary proof of citizenship when registering individuals to vote. Amid growing concerns about the adequacy of voting registration safeguards, members of the House of Representatives introduced and passed the federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act." The SAVE Act would create uniform procedural safeguards for voter registration by amending the NVRA to require individuals to provide documentary proof of US citizenship and identity before registering to vote in federal elections and require states to implement programs to verify registrants' citizenship status. The SAVE Act would also grant states free access to federal databases to ensure ineligible voters are identified and removed. As confidence in the electoral process and results are fundamental to American democracy, the Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges the US Senate to take swift action to enact the federal SAVE Act.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jim Holzapfel (R)*,  Douglas Steinhardt (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 09/19/2024)

Official Document