Washington: The US House of Representatives passed legislation to require individuals to present proof of US citizenship to register to vote in federal elections in the United States.
House lawmakers passed the bill, dubbed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, in a vote of 221 in favor and 198 opposed on Wednesday.
US House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that it is vital to bolster election security to ensure that only US citizens are voting in federal elections, amid an influx of illegal immigration across the southern border under the Biden administration.
The White House said that it strongly opposes the legislation. The bill is based on “easily disproven falsehoods,” the White House said, adding that it is rare that non-citizens break the law by voting in federal elections.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said that lawmakers who oppose the legislation are traitors to the United States and that those who disagree with the bill are seeking to cheat in elections.