John,
In the midst of attacks on basic needs, the Save American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) passed the House by a narrow margin and is now headed to the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to pass.
The SAVE Act would require all Americans to prove their citizenship status when they register to vote or update their voter registration, by going in person and presenting documentation―such as a passport or birth certificate. The problem is that more than 140 million Americans don’t have a passport or easy access to a birth certificate with their current legal name on it.1 Getting or replacing a birth certificate or passport costs money, a new kind of “poll tax” blocking citizens with low incomes from voting.
Let’s make it clear: the SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem.
In 2016, the Brennan Center for Justice interviewed election officials in 42 jurisdictions in 12 states and found only 30 cases of suspected noncitizens voting out of 23.5 million votes―just 0.0001%.2
The SAVE Act would create an unjust and burdensome process that only serves to suppress votes. It would disproportionately impact women, low-income communities, people of color, and naturalized citizens who may be wrongly removed from voter rolls due to outdated or incorrect data.3
Send a direct message to the Senate telling them to reject the SAVE Act now.
SEND A MESSAGE
Under this legislation, millions of Republican, Democratic, and independent voters could be blocked from voting, including 8 in 10 married women who changed their surname and don’t have a birth certificate that matches their current name―that’s 69 million women!4 21 million active voters do not have easy access to the documents necessary to prove citizenship.5
The SAVE Act would end voter registration drives and completely eliminate online voter registration, which is something that 42 states rely on.6
Congress should take actions that will help voters and promote democracy, such as by strengthening protections against discrimination in voting and expanding access to the ballot box for all communities to ensure that everyone can make their voice heard.
Take action today and demand the Senate reject the SAVE Act―a voter suppression bill that is a direct attack on democracy.
Thank you for all you do,
Dominique Espinoza
Policy and Strategic Partnerships Manager, CHN Action
1 The SAVE Act Would Disenfranchise Millions of Citizens
2 Noncitizen Voting: The Missing Millions
3 The SAVE Act: How a Proof of Citizenship Requirement Would Impact Elections
4 Will the SAVE Act make it harder for married women to vote? We ask legal experts
5 Millions of Americans Don’t Have Documents Proving Their Citizenship Readily Available
6 Online registration by state
