Louisiana state legislature official records and announcements

Louisiana's Johnson Pulls SAVE Act Requiring Proof of Citizenship Amid GOP, Democratic Opposition

Sep 14, 2024, 01:08 PM

The SAVE Act, a legislative effort by Republicans to require proof of citizenship to register to vote, has faced significant opposition from Democrats and within the GOP itself. The bill, which aims to address concerns about noncitizens, including illegal aliens, registering to vote, was pulled by Louisiana Republican Johnson just hours before a scheduled vote due to insufficient support within his party. Currently, no state requires proof of citizenship to register to vote, and 19 states allow illegal aliens to obtain drivers licenses. In many states, applying for welfare or a drivers license does not require proof of citizenship. The debate over the SAVE Act highlights the broader partisan divide on voter ID laws, with Democrats viewing them as undemocratic and discriminatory. GOP efforts to pass national voter ID laws have also been a non-starter with Democrats.