Republican governors and attorneys general are rallying behind President Trump’s initiative to mandate proof of citizenship for voting. In a detailed letter obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, state leaders emphasize that the current voter registration systems hinge on an “honor system” that does not sufficiently verify the identities of voters. The coalition is concerned that this lax approach allows states with significant populations of undocumented individuals to exert “undue influence” over federal elections and the management of taxpayer funds.
The letters come from members of the America First Policy Institute’s (AFPI) Governors and Attorneys General Councils. They show a unified front among Republican state leaders in support of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Trump has expressed a pressing desire to sign this legislation, suggesting it is a priority before he commits to any other measures. Recently, he has intensified his call for Congress to move forward with the SAVE Act, labeling mail-in voting as “corrupt as h—“.
During a recent address, Trump pointed to the importance of the SAVE Act, asserting, “Who would not have voter ID, who would not have proof of citizenship? The only people who would want not to have that are people that want to cheat.” The urgency behind the legislation is reflected in the Senate, where Republicans took initial steps to advance the bill with a 51-48 vote to begin debate, although its future remains in doubt with unified Democratic opposition.
In their letter to Senate leaders, members of AFPI’s Governors Council described the SAVE Act as a “commonsense measure” aimed at ensuring that only American citizens determine the outcomes of elections. This sentiment resonates through the signatures of governors such as Arkansas’s Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Iowa’s Kim Reynolds, and Texas’s Rick Perry, along with various attorneys general from states like Iowa, Alabama, and South Carolina.
The governors pointed out that while federal law restricts voting in federal elections to U.S. citizens, there is currently no requirement for states to verify citizenship at registration. They argue that states with large illegal populations, combined with insufficient safeguards, unfairly manipulate the law-making process and the allocation of federal resources. Their letters call attention to vulnerabilities in existing systems, noting that many states still lack robust mechanisms for confirming voter eligibility during the registration phase, even though they require identification at the polls.
The governors expressed readiness to collaborate with state election officials to implement the SAVE Act in a way that protects eligible voters while strengthening necessary safeguards. In a parallel communication, Republican attorneys general echoed these concerns, emphasizing the weaknesses in current voter registration processes that predominantly rely on an honor system. They noted that individuals can simply check a box to assert U.S. citizenship without needing documentary verification.
These legal leaders argue that the SAVE Act would resolve these gaps by mandating that applicants provide “documentary proof of United States citizenship” during voter registration for federal elections. Importantly, they contend that this legislation will not infringe on state control over election administration and will not result in the disenfranchisement of American citizens. They defended the proposal against claims of discrimination, stating, “It is an insult to suggest that minorities, women, or members of the working class are not smart enough to obtain and provide simple proofs of citizenship.”
The governors also stressed their commitment to ensure that the law is implemented in a manner that does not impose undue burdens on eligible citizens while simultaneously preventing ineligible registrations. “Our constituents deserve to know that their votes are protected and that elections in this country are free, fair, and secure,” they affirmed. This coalition underscores a broader intention to reform voter registration processes in a way that enhances integrity while addressing modern challenges in the electoral landscape.
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