Trump-backed election security bill advances through key House committee

A key election security bill backed by both former President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., advanced through a key hurdle on Thursday, moving it closer to a chamber-wide vote in the House of Representatives.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, passed the Committee on House Administration in a six-to-one vote.

"Preventing noncitizen voting and foreign influence in our elections is a critical component of restoring trust in our elections. I look forward to seeing these measures come to the Floor for consideration soon," committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., said in a statement.

WASHINGTON DC LAW ALLOWING NONCITIZENS TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS CHALLENGED BY LAWSUIT

The legislation would require states to obtain documentary proof of citizenship in order for a person to register to vote in federal elections, while also mandating that they purge noncitizens from existing voter rolls.

It would also empower citizens to bring civil lawsuits against election officials they believe are not enforcing or upholding the citizenship requirement.

Johnson first unveiled the bill during a press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, alongside the former president.

He reiterated his support for it during another high-level media event at the U.S. Capitol just weeks later. Roy was in attendance along with the bill's lead in the Senate, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, as well as former Trump administration officials Stephen Miller and Hogan Gidley.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS STORM US BORDER IN EL PASO, KNOCK OVER GUARDS AMID STANDOFF OVER TEXAS LAW

"Due to the wide open border that the Biden administration has refused to close, in fact, that they engineered to open, we now have so