Voting rights group warn that the measure could end up suppressing eligible voters

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed a measure that mandates proof of citizenship to register to vote - which is already a requirement.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require a Real ID, passport or other government identification that shows a person’s place of birth was in the United States.

According to the bill, passed on Wednesday, government-issued ID for citizens who were not born in the US would not be enough proof. They also would have to show a birth certificate or similar document to register to vote.

Democratic officials and voting rights groups have warned that, if it were to become law, the bill would prevent eligible citizens from voting.

They’ve argued that the measure has merely been used as a vessel for spreading misinformation about election laws and immigration ahead of 2024 elections.

Elon Musk had even suggested that anyone who voted against the bill should be executed for treason.

  • notfromhere@lemmy.ml
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    4 months ago

    The Heritage Foundation found 24 cases involving noncitizens voting between 2003 and 2023 — when more than 600 million votes were cast in presidential elections.

    This is our top priority guys! Nothing is more important than this right now!

  • MagicShel@programming.dev
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    4 months ago

    place of birth was in the United States.

    What about citizens whose place of birth is not in the United States? Like naturalized citizens or children born in foreign countries to American parents - soldiers, perhaps?

    Late edit: hell what about places that some folks are too stupid to know are actually in the United States? Like New Mexico. And Puerto Rico.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I guess that would mean if Elon voted, he would be arrested.

      So it wouldn’t be all doom and gloom.

      Edit: Also, Ted Cruz.

      • Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        Seriously. This fucker wasn’t even born here, why is he supporting this? I fucking hate self-entitled rich shitholes that think the ideas that even THEY push shouldn’t apply to them.

        Eat the rich.

          • scutiger@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            It doesn’t even matter. He doesn’t need a ballot to vote. His money has much more impact on the election than his vote.

        • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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          4 months ago

          Fuck the rich, but also fuck Elon in particular for being a Nazi. I wouldn’t know his name if he wasn’t rich, but I’d still hate the kind of person he is.

      • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Maybe add the death penalty if they have held office in the past while having been born else where and if and only if their name rhymes with ed?

  • Billiam@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Democratic officials and voting rights groups have warned that, if it were to become law, the bill would prevent eligible citizens from voting.

    Not bug, feature.

  • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldM
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    4 months ago

    Monsters. How can anyone possibly believe that the “let’s make it harder to vote” side are the good guys?

    • rayyy@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      How can anyone possibly believe …

      Because they tell their ignorant followers that they are the good guys. Critical thinking nowhere in sight.

  • Yewb@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    This guy is surrounded by yes men that treat him like a god king his views on the world are totally distorted.

    Fun fact for perspective - if you earn $100,000 per year it would take you 10000 years to be a billionaire.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      The fewer people vote, the more likely it is for Republicans to win since their base is more die-hard. And they know this.

  • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
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    4 months ago

    Thank god they’ve already seen to the important things and have nothing better to than to pass shit that already exists. I’ll know that we truly live in a safe and secure democracy when they get to rounds 3, 4, 5, etc. And /s if it wasn’t blatantly obvious.

  • RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Jeez… 90% of the new voting block in Florida will be ineligable.

    Sounds like this plan might backfire on the GOP.

  • nifty@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I don’t understand, people already had to be US citizens to vote. Is this a distraction tactic?

    Who might be barred from registering to vote under this? The naturalized and foreign birth citizens are the most likely people to have passports for ID/registration purposes. I think you already had to provide such ID in the past, so what does this change, effectively?

    A poor white person who doesn’t travel will likely not have a passport, and may also not be able to locate their birth certificate in time. So again, who is this law meant to disenfranchise?

  • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
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    4 months ago

    Democratic officials and voting rights groups have warned that, if it were to become law, the bill would prevent eligible citizens from voting.

    Isn’t their point that they want to make these people ineligible? The cruelty is the point.