Understanding the SAVE Act

The “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility” (SAVE) Act is a federal bill that, if passed, would change how voters register for federal elections — including here in New Mexico.

This page provides a nonpartisan overview of what the bill proposes, who it could impact, and frequently asked questions. We encourage voters to stay informed and reach out to their representatives with any questions or concerns.

What is the SAVE Act?

The SAVE Act is a federal bill that would require voters to show documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person — such as a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or certificate of naturalization — when registering to vote in person for federal elections.

This would be a significant change from how voter registration currently works in New Mexico. Right now, voters attest under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens and provide a state-issued ID, like a driver’s license or Real ID, as part of the registration process. Behind the scenes, the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office conducts secure backend verification checks against state and federal databases to confirm the voter’s identity and eligibility, but it does not directly reverify citizenship at the time of registration.

The Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office processes voter registration applications and relies on existing secure systems — including information matched through the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) via the Secretary of State — to help verify voter eligibility. New Mexico’s current system verifies identity and eligibility based on trusted source records, without requiring voters to present additional physical documents in person at the time of registration.

What Could Change?

If passed, the SAVE act could:

  • End the use of backend citizenship checks currently used in New Mexico
  • Require voters to provide in-person proof of citizenship when registering
  • Affect access to online voter registration
  • Create new barriers for certain eligible voters

Who Could Be Most Affected?

The requirement for additional documents may disproportionately impact:

  • Women who have changed their names due to marriage
  • Tribal members whose documents may not align with federal standards
  • Rural residents with limited access to document services
  • Elderly voters missing birth records
  • Low-income voters unable to afford replacement documents
  • First-time voters, including students

Frequently Asked Questions

No. While a Real ID verifies identity and legal presence, it does not confirm citizenship. Under the SAVE Act, voters would need to present additional documents such as a passport, birth certificate, or certificate of naturalization in person.

Yes, possibly — but not in the way online registration works now. New Mexico’s current system allows voters to register online and verifies citizenship through secure backend data matching. Under the SAVE Act, voters may need to upload proof of citizenship and then complete their registration in person — a more complex and time-consuming process. The law does not allow for online-only registration using the existing backend match system.

Disclaimer

The Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office is committed to keeping voters informed about potential changes in election law. As a county office, we receive our direction and official guidance from the New Mexico Secretary of State.

At this time, some aspects of the SAVE Act and its potential impact on voter registration and election procedures remain unclear. We are actively monitoring developments and will update this page as additional guidance becomes available from state or federal authorities.

For the most up-to-date information about statewide election policy, please visit the New Mexico Secretary of State’s website.