Sen. Mike Lee, the fire‑brand Republican from Utah, took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to demand action on voter‑registration integrity. Citing a recent Reuters investigation that uncovered over 30,000 self‑identified noncitizens mistakenly added to voter rolls across the United States since 2000, Lee warned that the problem “keeps happening” and called for the SAVE America Act to become law.
Report highlights registration errors in multiple states
The Reuters review found erroneous entries in California, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The outlet attributed the mistakes to “software glitches and clerical errors” and described them as “inadvertent bureaucratic failures, rather than organized efforts to register immigrants illegally.” While the exact number of noncitizens who actually cast ballots remains unknown, the data underscore the need for stronger safeguards.
Lee’s criticism of the honor‑system
Lee argued that the current reliance on an “honor system” for self‑attestation of voter eligibility has rendered existing laws against noncitizen voting ineffective. “Even though we have laws that prohibit things like noncitizen voting, those laws have been rendered difficult and essentially impossible to enforce,” he said, adding that the myth that voter fraud “never happens” is disproven by the ongoing errors.
SAVE America Act as a bipartisan solution
The legislation Lee introduced earlier this year would require proof of citizenship at the time of registration and mandate voter ID and photo identification at the polls. Lee emphasized that the bill seeks to protect the integrity of elections without disenfranchising lawful voters.
President Donald Trump has publicly voiced his support for the SAVE America Act. The bill passed the House of Representatives but has stalled in the Senate, prompting Lee to urge his colleagues to move it forward.
Expert endorsement and practical analogy
Don Palmer, senior legal fellow for election integrity at the Heritage Foundation, praised the story as proof that improving driver‑license agency verification of citizenship could be a practical way forward. Lee illustrated his point with a familiar analogy, comparing voter‑fraud prevention to the Olive Garden’s requirement for ID when customers use an all‑you‑can‑eat pasta pass. “It should not be any easier for someone to get away with voter fraud at a polling location than it is to cheat Olive Garden,” he said, adding that he enjoys the restaurant’s food and would gladly show his ID.
State‑level examples
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill recently disclosed that 6,600 self‑identified noncitizens were registered to vote in the state, with fewer than 400 actually casting ballots. While that figure is far smaller than the national total, it reinforces Lee’s call for uniform, federal standards.
What’s next?
Lee urged Senate leaders to prioritize the SAVE America Act, arguing that a bipartisan effort to upgrade verification systems and require photo ID would safeguard elections while respecting the rights of lawful citizens. He concluded that improving driver‑license agency databases and real ID processes could provide a practical, non‑partisan path forward.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
