WASHINGTON, D.C. (MPG) - On April 10, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill that ensures only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.

“The right to vote was always intended to be reserved for United States citizens. Allowing non-citizens that right would undermine the very principles upon which our nation was founded and diminish the value of votes cast by actual American citizens,” said Congressman LaMalfa. “For years, blue states have exploited weak laws, creating loopholes that put our elections at risk. The SAVE Act is a commonsense solution that closes these gaps and ensures that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, restoring trust and integrity to the process. I am pleased to see the House take this important step towards protecting the sanctity of our elections and the will of the American people.”

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act reinforces election security by:

Requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, whether at the DMV, a government office or by mail.

Ensuring voter rolls are accurate by mandating that states remove non-citizens from their databases.

Holding election officials accountable by allowing private citizens to sue if officials register voters without proper proof of citizenship.

Providing states access to federal databases at no cost to verify citizenship status.

Creating a process for legitimate voters who lack standard documentation, ensuring no eligible citizen is wrongly turned away.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties.