Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) discussed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Breitbart News Daily, highlighting concerns about non-citizens voting in federal elections. He emphasized the need for improved verification systems to ensure only citizens can vote in these elections.
Roy argues that there is "repeated evidence" of non-citizens voting, underscoring the need for the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship for voter registration nationwide.
Rep. Chip Roy appeared on Breitbart News Daily to discuss the SAVE Act, which addresses the issue of non-citizen voting in federal elections. Roy cited various studies and examples of non-citizen voting influencing past elections, including the 2008 election of Al Franken in Minnesota. He highlighted the removal of 1,500 registered voters in Virginia last year as evidence of ongoing issues with non-citizen registrations.
Roy pointed out that local jurisdictions like Oakland, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and New York City register voters for state and local elections, raising concerns about these voters participating in federal elections.
According to Roy, federal law restricts states' ability to check and ensure voter citizenship, necessitating separate election systems for states like Arizona to ensure citizenship verification for state and local elections.
“The state of Arizona has to run two systems — one for their state local elections and one for their federal elections,” Roy explained. “They’re literally bifurcated because they want to ensure citizenship for their state and local elections, but they’re not allowed to for federal elections. Therefore, we need to fix the problem.”
Roy also noted that the Motor Voter Act of the 1990s complicates states' abilities to verify citizenship. He emphasized the need for the SAVE Act to mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration in every state to address these issues comprehensively.
The SAVE Act, as described by Roy, has garnered significant bipartisan support, with many agreeing that only citizens should vote in federal elections. However, recent legislative attempts to address non-citizen voting have faced challenges. A recent vote in Washington to end the registration of non-citizens for their elections saw 52 Democrats supporting the measure while 143 opposed it. There was unanimous Republican support for this measure.
“We just had a vote in Washington that would end Washington, DC’s, registration of non-citizens for their elections,” Roy said. “We actually got 52 Democrats to support it. However, 143 Democrats opposed it. That gives you a rough idea.”
Roy further mentioned a separate bill seeking to base congressional seats and allocations on citizenship, which faced unanimous opposition from Democrats. This opposition highlights the political divide on the issue and underscores the complexities involved in implementing voter verification laws.
The discussion around the SAVE Act is set against a backdrop of broader concerns about large numbers of immigrants entering the U.S. Roy linked the issue of non-citizen voting to the ongoing immigration situation, emphasizing the importance of addressing voter eligibility to maintain the integrity of federal elections.
Roy's comments on Breitbart News Daily come at a time of heightened political tension over immigration and voter rights. He argued that ensuring only citizens can vote in federal elections is crucial for the integrity of the electoral process. The SAVE Act, according to Roy, is a necessary step to address the loopholes and limitations in the current system.
Rep. Chip Roy's appearance on Breitbart News Daily brought attention to the SAVE Act and the need for improved voter verification systems. He highlighted evidence of non-citizen voting, the challenges posed by federal laws, and the importance of bipartisan support for the SAVE Act. The ongoing political debate over immigration and voter rights adds urgency to the discussion, emphasizing the need for clear and enforceable voter eligibility requirements to ensure the integrity of federal elections.
