Election Integrity Activists Launch Nationwide Bus Tour to Support SAVE Act

Conservative activists are mobilizing across the United States to advocate for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which aims to enhance election integrity by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. The initiative is being spearheaded by Tea Party Patriots Action, which is launching its inaugural Only Citizens Vote Bus Tour on Monday, covering more than a dozen states from California to Maryland.

The SAVE Act seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act by mandating that individuals provide documentary proof of citizenship before they can cast ballots in federal elections. Proponents argue that this legislation would add a necessary layer of security to the electoral process.

“The SAVE Act is about ensuring that only citizens are voting in our elections,” said Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder and honorary chairwoman of Tea Party Patriots Action. “We believe that this is a fundamental aspect of election integrity.”

Critics, including many Democrats in Congress, counter that existing federal laws already impose penalties for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms. They argue that the current protections are sufficient and that the SAVE Act could disenfranchise eligible voters.

Recent incidents of voter fraud have fueled the debate. A Chinese national studying at the University of Michigan was charged with illegally voting in the 2024 presidential election, allegedly using a student ID to register. Federal prosecutors noted that the individual has since left the United States, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current verification processes.

An audit by the Michigan Secretary of State’s office identified 15 individuals who appeared to be non-U.S. citizens and had cast ballots in the 2024 General Election. While Democrats downplay these incidents as a small fraction of total votes, election integrity advocates assert that the issue is more widespread.

“Having laws on the books does not guarantee compliance,” said Matthew Tragesser of the Heritage Foundation. “We see the same type of situation when it comes to people residing in the United States who are not citizens but continue to vote in American elections.”

Concerns about voter roll accuracy have also been raised. J. Christian Adams, president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, testified before Congress that nearly a quarter of New York’s statewide voter roll was missing Social Security numbers, complicating the verification process.

“Poor list hygiene is a reliable warning signal for future list maintenance problems,” Adams stated. He emphasized that without proper oversight, ineligible voters could remain on the rolls for years, undermining the integrity of upcoming elections.

The SAVE Act has already passed in the House, but it faced opposition from 208 Democrats who voted against it. The bill has not yet been allowed to move to the Senate floor for a vote, prompting activists to intensify their efforts.

Martin expressed frustration with the lack of bipartisan support for the bill, noting that over 80 percent of Americans, including a majority of Democrats and independents, favor ensuring that only citizens vote. “If the Democrats were truly doing what their base wanted, they would be supporting this bill,” she said.

The Only Citizens Vote Bus Tour aims to raise awareness and pressure Congress to prioritize the SAVE Act. The tour will conclude on September 10 in Washington, D.C., with a rally at Upper Senate Park, where organizers plan to deliver petition signatures to lawmakers.

“The most important thing is that the people who are voted into office are truly the voters’ choice, and you can’t have that if you don’t have clean voter rolls,” Martin added.

As the debate over election integrity continues, the outcome of the SAVE Act remains uncertain, with advocates pushing for its passage amid growing concerns about voter eligibility and the security of electoral processes.