Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, is urging Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith to support the SAVE America Act, which would establish a requirement for proof of U.S. citizenship in federal voter registration.
“In Minnesota, Sen. Tina Smith has no legitimate reason not to support the SAVE America Act requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. With 80 to 85% of Americans including large majorities in Minnesota and over 70% of Democrats demanding this safeguard, her resistance leaves voter rolls open to illegals,” Cortes said. “That’s not protecting democracy — that’s dereliction of American sovereignty by the political class.”
His comments come in response to a letter from Minnesota election integrity advocate Gregory Buck, who urged Sen. Smith to support the legislation. According to Minnesota State Wire, Buck’s letter outlined the bill’s progress in Congress and its goal of establishing a federal standard requiring citizenship verification before processing voter registration applications for federal elections.
A March 2026 YouGov poll found that 59% of Americans support requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, while 29% oppose the requirement. Support includes 91% of Republicans and 35% of Democrats. The SAVE America Act would establish a national standard for federal elections requiring citizenship verification as part of voter registration procedures.
Minnesota does not require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for all voter registration applicants in federal elections. Voters must provide proof of identity and residence, such as a Minnesota driver’s license or utility bill, while citizenship is affirmed through an oath rather than verified through documents like a passport or birth certificate, according to the Minnesota House Research Department.
State election officials conduct eligibility reviews and maintain voter roll systems designed to ensure accuracy, though concerns about registration systems tied to driver’s license applications have been raised in broader public debates.
Cortes founded the League of American Workers, an organization focused on policies related to American workers and election integrity initiatives. He previously served as an adviser to President Donald Trump and has appeared in national media discussing issues including border security and voting policy.
