The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act was introduced in Washington to address a basic democratic premise: American elections should be decided by American citizens, and the system should verify that fact with voter ID. Yet despite the simplicity of that principle—and broad public support for voter ID and citizenship verification—the legislation remains stalled in the U.S. Senate.
Georgia has now stepped forward to fill that void.
This week, I introduced Georgia Senate Resolution 838, the State Assurance of Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Amendment, bringing the core principles of the federal SAVE Act directly to the Georgia Constitution. The resolution proposes to enshrine two foundational protections: that only United States citizens may vote in Georgia elections and that voters must present photographic identification before casting a ballot. By placing these standards in constitutional text and ultimately before the voters for ratification, SR 838 seeks to establish durable rules that transcend political cycles and provide clarity long before ballots are cast.
For years, Democrats have treated these concerns as political inconveniences rather than institutional necessities. Efforts to strengthen voter verification are routinely framed as controversial, even though the expectations behind them are commonplace in everyday life. Americans show identification to board planes, open bank accounts, and enter government buildings. The idea that voting—the most consequential civic act of all—should require less verification defies both logic and public sentiment.
Georgia’s experience with voter ID underscores that point. The state’s photo ID requirement has become a routine feature of its elections, functioning alongside record turnout and widespread voter participation. The dire predictions of disenfranchisement never materialized. Instead, the policy strengthened confidence in election outcomes while preserving broad access for lawful voters. Identification at the ballot box has become an expected step, aligning voting with the identity verification required for countless ordinary activities.
Citizenship verification at the registration stage completes that framework. Federal law already limits voting to citizens, but registration processes often rely on self-attestation rather than documentary proof. That gap between legal requirement and administrative practice has fueled growing concern among voters who expect the rules governing eligibility to be more than symbolic. SR 838 addresses that gap by embedding the citizenship standard directly in Georgia’s Constitution, providing clarity about who may participate in elections and reinforcing the principle that political power derives from the citizenry.
The constitutional form of the proposal is central to its purpose. Statutory election laws can be weakened, repealed, or reinterpreted with shifting political winds. Constitutional provisions, by contrast, establish foundational rules that endure across election cycles. By elevating citizenship verification and voter identification to constitutional status, SR 838 seeks to provide stability and prevent future attempts to dilute safeguards through ordinary legislation.
The measure also reflects the enduring strength of American federalism. States administer elections, maintain voter rolls, and oversee the practical mechanics of voting. When Washington falters, states have historically led—whether on welfare reform, education innovation, or tax policy. SR 838 continues that tradition by translating federal SAVE Act principles into immediate state action rather than waiting on congressional stalemate.
A state-led movement to enshrine SAVE Act–style protections across America would carry national significance. While federal uniformity may remain elusive, a growing number of states adopting similar constitutional provisions could create a practical baseline for citizenship verification and voter identification. In the absence of federal leadership, decentralized action can still establish clear expectations for how elections are conducted.
If other states follow this path, the SAVE Act’s principles will not depend on the pace of Senate debate or the willingness of national Democrats to move forward. They will take root where elections are actually conducted, reinforcing a foundational promise of American democracy: that the right to vote belongs to citizens and that the integrity of that right will be protected with clarity, consistency, and permanence.
Senator Greg Dolezal is a Republican member of the Georgia State Senate representing District 27, where he serves as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and serves on the Senate Special Committee on Investigations.