Central ND News

Today, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) joined her colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, known as H.R. 22. This legislation seeks to enhance election integrity nationwide by requiring uniform proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. The initiative reflects practices already in place in North Dakota.

Fedorchak commented on the importance of this measure, stating, "In North Dakota, we've set a precedent for election integrity by requiring voters to present valid identification that confirms their name, current residential address, and date of birth. This approach has safeguarded our elections against fraud and maintained public confidence in our democratic process. It’s time the rest of the country follows our state’s lead to make sure only eligible Americans are voting."

As North Dakota operates without a voter registration system, it relies on strict identification requirements to maintain election integrity. Specifically, voters must present identification with specific personal details when voting. This has been effective in ensuring that only citizens participate in elections.

The SAVE Act mirrors these standards, advocating for consistent voter verification across the United States. Secretary of State Michael Howe expressed support, noting, “I applaud Congresswoman Fedorchak and the House of Representatives for passing the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act will further ensure that only qualified electors of North Dakota are voting in our elections through increased access to federal immigration data from Secretary Noem and the Department of Homeland Security. North Dakota has been proactive in enacting commonsense election integrity initiatives such as a voter ID requirement, proof of citizenship, and only using paper ballots. Free and fair elections are the foundation of American democracy. Congress’s SAVE Act compliments North Dakota’s efforts in having a trusted, secure, and accurate election system.”

Fedorchak pledged continued support for measures that strengthen the security and reliability of U.S. elections, affirming their role in upholding American democracy.