Patrice Johnson, chair of the Michigan Fair Elections Institute, is calling on U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin to support the SAVE America Act as it awaits consideration in the Senate.
The legislation, which passed the House by a narrow margin, would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration and mandate photo identification for federal elections. Supporters say the measures address gaps in eligibility verification, according to Congress.gov.
“We have a rare window to strengthen the foundation of American self-governance, and I urge our Senators to seize it by opposing any amendments that would dilute these essential safeguards. We are ready to work collaboratively with Senators Peters and Slotkin to ensure Michigan leads the nation in elections that are secure, transparent, and worthy of public trust,” Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson made the remarks in her capacity as chair of an organization focused on election procedures through research, education, and oversight. The statement comes amid broader discussions about voter roll accuracy following the 2024 election cycle, according to the Michigan Fair Elections Institute.
A review released by the Michigan Department of State in April 2025 identified 15 cases of apparent noncitizens casting ballots in the 2024 general election out of more than 5.7 million ballots cast, or about 0.00028%, with 13 cases referred for potential prosecution.
Johnson serves as founder and chair of her organization, has provided testimony before the Michigan House on election administration issues, and works through her group to promote permanent election integrity infrastructure across Michigan counties.
