Bipartisan House Passes SAVE Act to Prevent Non-Citizens from Voting: A Step Towards Election Integrity or Voter Suppression?

Washington D.C., District of Columbia United States of America
Bill aims to prevent non-citizens from voting in federal elections
Critics argue it would make it harder for eligible Americans to register and increase the risk of eligible voters being purged from voter rolls
House passes SAVE Act with bipartisan support
SAVE Act passed with a final vote of 221-198
Voters required to provide proof of citizenship via IDs and documentation
White House opposes the bill, stating it would do nothing to safeguard elections but rather erode public confidence in US election system
Bipartisan House Passes SAVE Act to Prevent Non-Citizens from Voting: A Step Towards Election Integrity or Voter Suppression?

In recent news, the House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act, a bill aimed at preventing non-citizens from voting in federal elections. The legislation received bipartisan support with only five Democrats voting in favor: Reps. Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez, Jared Golden, Don Davis and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York, who is the chair of the House Election Integrity Caucus and a strong advocate for citizenship voting requirements, expressed her satisfaction with the bill's passage.

Under the SAVE Act, voters would be required to provide proof of citizenship via IDs and documentation such as a passport or birth certificate. The legislation passed with a final vote of 221-198. However, it is important to note that it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections.

Despite this, some argue that the bill serves as an important step towards election integrity and preserving the concept of one citizen, one vote. Others view it as a voter suppression effort targeted at key Democratic constituencies.

The SAVE Act is not without controversy. Critics claim that it would make it harder for eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk of eligible voters being purged from voter rolls. The White House has also expressed opposition to the bill, stating that it would do nothing to safeguard elections but rather erode public confidence in the US election system.

It is essential to approach this issue with a clear understanding of the facts and avoid biased interpretations. While there have been instances of non-citizens attempting to vote or being registered to vote, these cases are rare. It is crucial that we continue to uphold the integrity of our electoral process while ensuring that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.



Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Is the SAVE Act an important step towards election integrity or a voter suppression effort?
  • What are the potential consequences of the SAVE Act on eligible voters?

Sources

95%

  • Unique Points
    • Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York reacted to the House passage of the SAVE Act, which aims to prevent illegal immigrants from voting in U.S. elections.
    • The legislation passed with a final vote of 221-198, with only five Democrats voting in favor: Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez, Jared Golden, Don Davis and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
    • Tenney is the chair of the House Election Integrity Caucus and believes that only citizens should vote to preserve democracy.
    • Under the legislation, voters would be required to provide proof of citizenship via IDs and documentation such as a passport or birth certificate.
  • Accuracy
    • The SAVE Act requires voters to provide proof of citizenship via IDs and documentation such as a passport or birth certificate.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author makes an appeal to emotion when stating 'There’s nothing more sacred and more profound than the right to vote and especially to preserve our self-governing constitutional republic and to preserve our democracy.' This is not a logical fallacy in itself, but it can be manipulative if used excessively or insincerely. The author also uses an appeal to authority when quoting House Speaker Mike Johnson's statement 'And it’s an issue we never thought we would have to actually address, but that moment has come to us now. Should Americans and Americans alone determine the outcome of American elections? Or should we allow foreigners and illegal aliens to decide who sits in the White House and in the People’s House and in the Senate?' This is not a fallacy if Johnson's statement accurately reflects his beliefs, but it can be used as an argumentative tool to sway public opinion. No formal or informal fallacies were found beyond these two examples.
    • There’s nothing more sacred and more profound than the right to vote and especially to preserve our self-governing constitutional republic and to preserve our democracy.
    • And it’s an issue we never thought we would have to actually address, but that moment has come to us now. Should Americans and Americans alone determine the outcome of American elections? Or should we allow foreigners and illegal aliens to decide who sits in the White House and in the People’s House and in the Senate?
  • Bias (95%)
    The author expresses a clear ideological bias towards the SAVE Act and the importance of only allowing citizens to vote in elections. He also uses language that depicts Democrats as undermining the right to vote and being in disarray.
    • "And so I think that that really sends a terrible message, if that's what the Democrats plan on running on, as they remain in disarray and chaos over their leading nominee right now for president."
      • "It's pretty incredible to me that this is what they [Democrats] continue to do is to really undermine our sacred right to vote, undermine the right of citizens and no one feels more aggrieved by this than people who are new citizens, people who are excited about their ability to vote in an election that's private and free and that's fair."
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      84%

      • Unique Points
        • The US House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday to ban non-citizens from registering to vote in federal elections
        • Republicans claim that people who have crossed the US-Mexico border illegally could cast ballots in this year’s presidential and congressional elections
      • Accuracy
        • It is already a felony offense for a non-citizen to vote in a federal election
      • Deception (30%)
        The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author quotes Republicans' claims about non-citizens voting illegally without providing context or fact-checking the statements. The author also uses emotive language to describe these claims as 'apocalyptic rhetoric' and a 'scare tactic'. Additionally, the article implies that Democrats are encouraging non-citizens to vote, which is not supported by any evidence in the article.
        • Republicans have gone so far as to allege that Democrats are actively encouraging non-citizens to vote.
        • The legislation now goes to the Democratic-led Senate, where it is likely to be dead on arrival.
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      55%

      • Unique Points
        • The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the Save Act, is being proposed to mandate proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
        • Research suggests that people without a valid driver’s license are more likely to be young and non-White, and they often lean Democratic.
      • Accuracy
        • Republicans claim that people who have crossed the US-Mexico border illegally could cast ballots in this year’s presidential and congressional elections.
      • Deception (0%)
        The author makes several statements that are emotionally manipulative and sensational. He compares the Save Act to an 'anti-bear legislation' and calls those who oppose it 'traitors'. These statements are intended to elicit strong emotions from readers and create a false sense of urgency around the issue. The author also uses selective reporting by focusing on the potential impact of the Save Act on citizens, while downplaying or ignoring the fact that it would prevent noncitizens from voting, which is its stated purpose.
        • Why are Democrats so adamantly against ensuring only American citizens vote in our elections? They want to turn illegal aliens into voters. We must pass the SAVE Act to prevent this.
        • It's the same downside as we see with our anti-bear legislation.
        • Those who oppose this are traitors.
      • Fallacies (80%)
        The author makes an appeal to fear by exaggerating the problem of noncitizen voting and using inflammatory rhetoric such as 'traitors' and 'great replacement theory'. He also uses a false dilemma fallacy by implying that either one believes in the Save Act or one is a traitor. The author also makes an appeal to authority by quoting Elon Musk and Mike Johnson, but does not provide any evidence to support their claims.
        • Anyone voting against this law, incidentally, should be considered a traitor who is subject to execution.
        • Why are Democrats so adamantly against ensuring only American citizens vote in our elections? They want to turn illegal aliens into voters. We must pass the SAVE Act to prevent this.
        • Those who oppose this are traitors.
      • Bias (10%)
        The author makes derogatory statements about people who lean Democratic and implies that they are not real Americans by using the term 'illegals' to refer to non-citizens. He also uses inflammatory language such as 'traitors' when referring to those who oppose the legislation, which is a clear attempt to demonize them.
        • Among them: deportation and a permanent ban on admission.
          • But why not simply pass the bill? What’s the downside? Well, it’s the same downside as we see with our anti-bear legislation.
            • The penalty is death.
              • We all know intuitively that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections.
                • Win-win-win. Demonize immigrants, amplify the idea that elections are riddled with fraud and make it harder for people who vote Democratic to vote.
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication