The SAVE America Act: What it Could Mean for Voters

EASTERN SHORE, Md. — The SAVE America Act of 2026 would require voters to provide proof of citizenship and a photo ID to register—a move that supporters, like Rep. Andy Harris, say would prevent noncitizens from voting. But critics warn that the bill could create barriers for millions of voters.

“Right now, it is so easy for all of us to register. We can go online, we can register at the DMV, we can register by mail. All of that will be gone,” said Nancy Rogers, president of the Lower Shore chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Rogers said the changes could hit rural communities on the Eastern Shore especially hard, with limited access to transportation or the documents needed to prove citizenship. Married women could also face challenges if their legal name doesn’t match their birth certificate.

Rogers added that current safeguards, like Social Security verification and database cross-checks, are enough to prevent noncitizens from voting. “I think they’re targeting a population that really is vulnerable.”

Rep. Andy Harris said it’s a matter of election integrity and that voter laws in Maryland are too relaxed. “These are common-sense measures that will restore confidence in elections. We have no idea how many noncitizens voted in Maryland because we have no way of checking it. The bottom line is, Maryland does not routinely check that.”