WASHINGTON (TNND) — Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Utah, and Wisconsin are considering measures to bolster election security by requiring voter identification or explicitly prohibiting non-citizens from voting. These proposals aim to ensure voters verify their identity and prove U.S. citizenship before casting ballots.

Federal law, specifically the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, already prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections. However, some states and cities allow non-citizens to participate in local elections, such as school board or city council elections. The District of Columbia and specific municipalities in California, Maryland, and Vermont permit non-citizen voting in some or all local elections, as reported by Ballotpedia.

As of November 2024, 15 states explicitly prohibit non-citizen voting, with the majority having supported former President Trump in the last election. Meanwhile, 35 states require some form of identification to vote, with 23 of those mandating a photo ID. Conversely, 15 states do not require any ID for in-person voting on Election Day, according to Ballotpedia.

Public sentiment strongly favors voter ID requirements. A Pew Research Center survey found that 81% of Americans believe voters should present a government-issued photo ID to vote.

Efforts to further secure elections include the proposed SAVE Act, which stands for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility. This legislation would require proof of citizenship, such as a REAL ID or passport, to register for federal elections and mandate states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls.

“American elections belong to American citizens, and the public's confidence in those elections is the cornerstone of our republic. We in Congress have a duty to our fellow citizens to provide that confidence and put concrete enforcement in place to ensure that our elections and our sovereignty cannot be hijacked and influenced by foreign nationals who have no business voting in this country. That's why I am proud to reintroduce the SAVE Act with my friends Senator Mike Lee and Representative Andrew Garbarino. The House passed this critical bipartisan bill last year - I look forward to working with the Republican Senate to put this policy on President Trump's desk," explained Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21).

Senator Mike Lee, the author of the companion legislation in the Senate, said, “Public trust in the integrity of our elections is absolutely essential for the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. A vast majority of our countrymen agree: only American citizens should be able to register and vote in American elections. The SAVE Act gives states the ability to prevent illegal voter registration and protect the ballot box from foreign election interference.”

Despite these efforts, there is no substantial evidence that non-citizens have voted in numbers significant enough to alter the outcome of any federal election.