Mississippi lawmakers have approved the SHIELD Act, a bill that seeks to verify the citizenship of voters registering in the state. The legislation was sent to Governor Tate Reeves, a Republican, after the Senate concurred with House changes Monday.
State Senator Jeremy England, the bill’s author, said the legislation mandates the use of the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to confirm U.S. citizenship for voters not already in the Department of Public Safety’s system or those who have identified themselves as non-residents. England clarified that the database is different from the federal SAVE Act being considered in Congress, which would require proof of citizenship and photo ID at voting.
Democratic senators voiced opposition, with State Senator David Blount proposing a conference on the bill rather than immediate passage. Blount criticized the reliance on federal databases, questioning their accuracy and suggesting the bill is based on a false premise of widespread non-citizen voting. He argued no court has found evidence of large-scale illegal voting by non-citizens in Mississippi.
Other opponents, including State Senator Johnny Dupree, expressed concern about voters with health issues, such as mail-in ballots for elderly residents. England countered that the goal is to ensure election integrity and not to disenfranchise voters. “This is a bill to make sure that the registered voters in Mississippi and the people voting in our elections are U.S. citizens,” he said.
The House approved the bill 31-16, while the Senate’s attempt to delay further discussion failed in a voice vote. Democrats have criticized the measure as a modern poll tax, citing the difficulty many Americans face in providing proof of citizenship, especially the elderly and those without passports.
Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor called the measure a “poll tax by another name” and argued it would suppress voter participation. Sources indicate that Governor Reeves is expected to sign the bill into law.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
