Trump urges passage of SAVE Act during State of the Union; Democrats warn of voting access impact

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, saying it is needed to combat voter fraud.

“I’m asking you to approve the SAVE America Act,” Trump said. “All voters must show voter ID. All voters show proof of citizenship in order to vote.”

The proposal would require people to present proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or passport when registering to vote. Trump said the measure is aimed at preventing noncitizens from participating in elections.

“Stop illegal aliens and others who are unpermitted persons from voting in our sacred American elections,” Trump said. “That cheating is rampant in our elections.”

Democrats, however, say the bill could make it harder for millions of Americans to register and cast ballots if it becomes law.

Marshall Carter Tripp, an El Paso resident, said she is concerned about the potential impact.

“I find it very disturbing,” he said, arguing the measure could disenfranchise eligible voters. “It’s like some of the other elements of making it more difficult for people to vote effort for controlling elections that is not suitable for democracy.”

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, a democrat, said the documentation requirement could create problems for married women and others whose current legal names do not match the names on their birth certificates.

“If it doesn’t match the last name on your birth certificate, you literally will not be able to vote,” Escobar said. She added that many Americans do not have passports and may not be able to afford one, particularly in low-income communities.

Dr. Amber Archuleta-Lurcero, an associate professor of government at El Paso Community College, said the proposal could also shift the federal government’s role in overseeing elections, which are traditionally administered by the states.

“The president is asking for DHS to also run it through that system as well in terms of alien eligibility,” she said. “So it’s a multilayered facet in terms of basically the provisions of protecting voter eligibility — in terms of who gets to vote, who doesn’t get to vote.”

For residents like Tripp, the debate underscores the importance of civic participation.

“Vote, vote, vote, vote,” she said. “Use your freedom to vote. It is your right.”