On April 10, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act by a narrow 220–208 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it’s expected to face strong opposition. Introduced by House Republicans, the legislation would require individuals to register to vote or update their registration by presenting documentation proving U.S. citizenship in person. Supporters argue it’s a necessary step to prevent noncitizen voting, though such cases are extremely rare and already illegal. Democrats have vowed to fight the bill.

Expats are urged to register as soon as possible, in case the bill becomes law.

Advocacy groups representing U.S. voters overseas have raised major concerns, particularly for the estimated 9 million Americans living abroad, including about one million in Mexico. Current law allows Americans overseas to register and vote by mail, fax, or online under the protections of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The SAVE Act would effectively eliminate these options by requiring in-person registration or updates at a local U.S. election office with documents like passports or birth certificates—an impractical step for most living overseas.

If enacted, the bill could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, including military personnel, their families, and civilian expats. For those in areas like Puerto Vallarta, the new law would force anyone needing to register, update their info, or re-register due to a name change or move to travel back to the U.S. in person just to show their documents—potentially preventing many from voting at all.

While the bill affects all Americans abroad, including active-duty military, data shows that expat voters tend to lean Democratic—raising suspicions that the bill is politically motivated by Republicans who backed it.

Another group potentially impacted: women. According to the National Women’s Law Center, up to 69 million women could be affected due to name changes after marriage. Since the bill demands that documentation match exactly, or additional ID be provided, women with mismatched records could face major voting barriers. Ironically, this could hurt Republicans, as studies show that married women—especially those who’ve taken their spouse’s name—tend to vote Republican.

The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the bill. Its future remains uncertain, with a likely Democratic filibuster looming. The bill would need 60 votes to pass.