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Bill

AJR 164

Urges US Senate to pass federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Vicky Flynn and 1 co-sponsor

The SAVE Act would require documentary proof of citizenship and identity for federal voter registration, plus state verification programs and access to federal databases to remove

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AJR 164

Summary of AJR 164 (Session 222) – New Jersey

Purpose

AJR 164 is a joint resolution urging the United States Senate to pass the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The resolution frames the SAVE Act as a measure to strengthen election security and restore public trust in federal elections by improving the accuracy and integrity of voter registration for federal elections.

What the bill is proposing (key provisions)

  • Upgrade to NVRA: The SAVE Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to implement stronger, uniform procedural safeguards for registering to vote in federal elections.
  • Documentary proof of citizenship and identity: The Act would require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship and identity. Acceptable forms of proof would include:
    1. Identification consistent with the REAL ID Act of 2005
    2. A valid United States passport
    3. A United States military identification card and a military record showing U.S. place of birth
    4. A valid government-issued photo ID listing place of birth as the United States
    5. A valid government-issued photo ID plus a birth record showing U.S. birth
  • Citizenship verification program: States would be required to implement programs to verify registrants’ citizenship status.
  • Access to federal databases: States would be granted free access to federal databases to help identify and remove ineligible voters from voter rolls.

Who would be affected

  • Voters registering for federal elections: Individuals would need to provide documentary proof of citizenship and identity at the time of registration.
  • States administering federal elections: States would implement the new documentary proof requirements, citizenship verification programs, and use federal databases to maintain voter rolls.
  • Voter registration processes: The changes would shift from relying primarily on self-attestation (without documentary proof) to requiring verified documentation.

Context and rationale (from the bill’s framing)

  • The NVRA (motor voter law) encourages voter registration by allowing registration at driver’s license offices.
  • There have been documented (and cited) instances where noncitizens were inadvertently registered due to registration processes linked to motor vehicle interactions.
  • Public concern about the integrity of federal elections and counting of ineligible votes has grown; a 2023 Bipartisan Policy Center survey highlighted substantial concern among Americans about ineligible votes.
  • Proponents argue the SAVE Act would provide uniform, verifiable safeguards to ensure only eligible citizens vote in federal elections and improve confidence in election results.

Procedural timeline and status

  • The resolution was introduced on March 19, 2026, and referred to the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.
  • The bill (AJR 164) is a resolution urging action; it does not itself enact law but expresses NJ’s position and calls on Congress to act.
  • The bill lists sponsors/co-sponsors and notes the SAVE Act’s prior House passage (July 10, 2024) and current status as pending in the Senate.

Implications

  • If the SAVE Act becomes law, federal election registration would require documentary proof of citizenship and identity, with states maintaining verification programs and using federal databases to purge ineligible voters.
  • The changes could reduce noncitizen registrations in federal elections and increase alignment with stricter eligibility verification.
  • Potential impacts include changes to registration timelines, administrative burden on states, and public debate over balance between security and access to voting.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text and stated intent as of its filing and does not reflect any enacted changes beyond the described provisions.

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

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