Noncitizen Voting Cases Show Need for Proof-of-Citizenship Voter ID Law (SAVE America Act)
Source: Brianna Lyman. "Feds Charge Two With Illegally Voting Amid NJ Voter Roll Fiasco." September 28, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that two noncitizens getting charged for illegally voting in New Jersey—on top of 6,600 noncitizens found on the state's voter rolls—proves that the U.S. voter registration system is too easy to cheat. She says Congress should pass a law requiring people to show proof of citizenship (not just check a box) to register to vote, and blames Democrats for blocking this kind of legislation.
Conclusion
Congress should pass the SAVE America Act to require documentary proof of citizenship and voter ID for voter registration, because current self-attestation systems are inadequate to prevent noncitizen voting.
Premises
- Two noncitizens in New Jersey were criminally charged with illegally voting in multiple federal elections after falsely attesting U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms.
- Approximately 6,600 noncitizens were found registered to vote in New Jersey due to a DMV 'software error,' with a preliminary analysis showing hundreds actually voted.
- New Jersey's Democratic governor has refused to disclose noncitizen voter records or party affiliation breakdowns to The Federalist or the Department of Justice.
- New Jersey is one of 30 states being sued by the DOJ for refusing to turn over voter rolls for cross-checking against improper registrations.
- The current National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), as interpreted after Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, prohibits states from requiring documentary proof of citizenship on federal voter registration forms, relying instead on a self-attestation 'honor system.'
- The SAVE America Act would amend the NVRA to require documentary proof of citizenship and voter ID, closing the loophole that allowed the New Jersey cases to occur.
Assumptions
- Requiring documentary proof of citizenship would meaningfully reduce noncitizen voter registration and voting without creating significant barriers for eligible citizens.
- The current self-attestation system is the primary cause of noncitizen voting incidents, rather than isolated enforcement or administrative failures.
- Democratic opposition to the SAVE America Act stems from unwillingness to address election integrity rather than other policy concerns (e.g., voter access, disenfranchisement risks).
- New Jersey's refusal to share data implies a lack of transparency or willingness to allow scrutiny, rather than legal/privacy constraints.
- Noncitizen voting incidents, though described as statistically rare by critics, are significant enough to necessitate federal legislative reform.