Garden State Times

Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman Paul Kanitra (R-10) have announced their intention to introduce a joint resolution urging the United States Senate to pass the "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" (SAVE Act) aimed at protecting the integrity of federal elections.

"Ensuring the integrity of our federal elections is paramount to protecting the future of our democracy," said the delegation in a joint statement. “The shortcomings of voter registration systems across the country may have created opportunities for noncitizens to unknowingly slip through the cracks. Requiring proof of citizenship before registering to vote is a reasonable measure to address these potential concerns while maintaining free and fair elections."

Currently, federal law does not require individuals to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Many states automatically register individuals to vote when applying for a driver’s license to streamline voter registration. These efforts, however, may have resulted in state motor vehicle agencies mistakenly registering noncitizens to vote.

The SAVE Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 by requiring states to verify registrants’ citizenship status and remove ineligible voters from voter rolls.

The legislators are also sponsors of S-2561/A1275, which maintains that, pursuant to the New Jersey Constitution and State Law, only individuals who are citizens of the United States are eligible to vote.