Rep. Mike Kelly, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 16th District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Mike Kelly, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 16th District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Representative Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania has cast his vote in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which aims to permit only U.S. citizens to participate in federal elections. The bill successfully passed the House of Representatives and will now move forward to the Senate for consideration.
Rep. Kelly emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, "This legislation makes it clear: only American citizens are allowed to vote in American elections, plain and simple. This is a cornerstone of our democracy." He expressed concern over recent instances where non-citizens have been allowed to vote in municipal elections in Democrat-led cities, emphasizing that "American citizens — and only American citizens — should decide American elections."
The SAVE Act mandates states to collect proof of citizenship from individuals registering to vote. It also requires the removal of non-citizens from current voter rolls and provides states with the necessary tools for implementing these changes. The legislation had previously passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 221 to 198 during the 118th Congress but was stalled in the Senate by Democrats.