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Bill

HB 454

Election Law - Voter Registration Eligibility - U.S. Citizenship Verification (SAVE Our Elections Act of 2026)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Adams and 29 co-sponsors

Maryland bill mandates federal citizenship verification for voter registrations to prevent non-citizen voting, raising concerns about database accuracy and disproportionate impacts on eligible voters.

Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 454

Legislative bill overview

HB 454, the "SAVE Our Elections Act of 2026," requires Maryland to verify U.S. citizenship status for all voter registration applicants, likely through the federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database or similar verification mechanisms. The bill aims to prevent non-citizens from registering to vote by implementing citizenship confirmation procedures during the registration process.

Why is this important

Voter eligibility verification directly affects election integrity and public confidence in voting systems. This issue has become increasingly contentious nationally, with supporters arguing verification prevents illegal voting and opponents concerned about voter suppression, administrative burdens, and accuracy of verification databases. Maryland's approach could influence other states' election administration policies.

Potential points of contention

  • Verification database accuracy: SAVE and similar databases have documented error rates; false positives could disenfranchise eligible citizens, while false negatives could allow ineligible registrations
  • Implementation costs and timeline: Citizenship verification infrastructure requires significant IT investment and staff training; delays could create administrative backlogs during registration periods
  • Disproportionate impact: Naturalized citizens and immigrant communities may experience longer processing times or additional documentation burdens, raising fairness concerns even if unintentional
  • Existing safeguards: Maryland already requires citizenship attestation under penalty of perjury; debate centers on whether additional verification mechanisms are necessary or redundant

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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