Proof-of-Citizenship at Registration Could Lock Eligible Voters Out

A GOP push to require proof of citizenship to register to vote (the SAVE Act) is framed as a safeguard against noncitizen voting, but critics warn it would disenfranchise legal voters who lack documentation or are deterred by extra steps. State experiences with SAVE-based screening show misflagging and administrative errors that can remove or delay eligible voters, often affecting people of color and young voters; a Kansas 2011 law, blocked after it blocked tens of thousands of registrations with very few noncitizen registrations, serves as a cautionary precedent. Other states (New Hampshire, Arizona, Texas, Idaho) report similar issues and disparate impact. Given the rarity of actual noncitizen votes, many argue the potential harm to eligible voters outweighs any modest fraud prevention.