The SAVE Act would require all Americans to prove their citizenship with documentation unavailable to millions and upend how every American citizen registers to vote.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which aims to prevent noncitizens from registering to vote, passed the House on Thursday with the help of MAGA Republican Cliff Bentz.
This bill would mandate that individuals present a birth certificate, passport, or another form of citizenship documentation each time they sign up or update their voter registration. [Survey data indicates that more than 21 million Americans do not possess these records.] If implemented, the legislation would significantly hinder voter registration efforts — potentially preventing millions of eligible U.S. citizens from voting — and disproportionally impact voters from minority communities, those who change their names (especially married women), and younger voters.
The bill’s requirement to present identification is not limited solely to new registrations — it also includes every instance of “application to register to vote,” including re-registrations and address changes. Given that tens of millions of Americans participate in registration or re-registration activities between federal elections, the bill’s implications could affect a significant portion of the population.
The legislation lacks a reliable backup plan for individuals without physical proof of citizenship to register. It mandates states to create a process for such cases using alternative evidence and sworn statements. However, this option is ambiguous and restricted by another part of the legislation that criminalizes registering applicants who cannot provide documentary proof of citizenship, which could deter election officials from assisting individuals without proper documentation.
We urge you to contact our senators and encourage them to vote against this bill.
Jeff Merkley
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/connect/contact/
202.224.3753
Ron Wyden
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/email-ron
202.224.5244
And don’t forget to let Congressman Cliff Bentz know how you feel about his vote to disenfranchise millions of voters:
Cliff Bentz
https://bentz.house.gov/contact
202.225.5774