Republican Bills To Combat Voter Fraud And Non-citizen Voting Heard In House Committee

NOTE: The Maryland Senate Republican Caucus shared the following press release:

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee held hearings today on two bills that are part of the House Republican Caucus Accountability and Affordability Agenda. One of the best ways to ensure our government is accountable is to make sure our elections are as secure as possible.

Delegate Kevin Hornberger (District 35B – Cecil County) presented HB 454 – SAVE Our Elections Act, which requires the Maryland Board of Elections to verify the citizenship of voters by utilizing the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program.

Not to be confused with the federal SAVE Act that is before Congress, the SAVE program is an information service that is administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which state and local governments use to verify an individual’s citizenship or immigration status to determine eligibility for state benefits, licenses, and other activities, including voter registration.

Currently, 23 states utilize SAVE for voter registration and/or voter list maintenance, including Virginia and Colorado. According to the SAVE search tool, several Maryland agencies already utilize SAVE, including the Department of Human Services Family Investment Administration, the Department of Labor’s Division of Unemployment Insurance, and the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency.

“One of the pillars of our democracy is our citizens’ right to vote,” said Delegate Hornberger. “The caveat being that you must be a citizen. Our election officials can no longer say that non-citizens do not register – whether accidentally or on purpose – with the case of Ian Roberts, we know that is not true. This is a tool the state already uses to verify citizenship for a variety of programs; it is completely logical and right that we also use it to verify citizenship at registration and as a tool to maintain our voter rolls.”

Delegate Bob Long (District 6 – Baltimore County) presented HB 462, which requires a voter to present valid, government-issued photo identification to vote. If the voter does not possess a government-issued ID, they are permitted to present a valid non-governmental photo identification, along with a current utility bill, bank statement, or other official document that includes the voter’s name and address.

Individuals unable to provide identification will be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states have laws that request or require voters to show some type of identification when they go to vote. Delegate Long has been the lead sponsor of voter-ID measures since 2022.

“For our democracy to survive, our citizens must have faith and trust in our election processes,” said Delegate Long. “Voting is one of the most precious rights we have. It is sacred. We must be certain that the person casting the ballot is who they say they are. There are hundreds of instances where we must provide identification as a security measure. It is only right that we protect our votes the same way.”