John,
House Republican leadership is racing to bring the so-called SAVE America Act to the floor, with a vote expected tomorrow.[1] This bill represents one of the most aggressive federal attacks on voting rights in years, and it is being pushed through Congress on a purposely fast timeline, with full awareness of the damage it would cause.
The SAVE Act would require Americans to produce specific citizenship documents simply to register to vote and would impose a nationwide voter ID mandate for federal elections. Research shows nearly 21 million voting-age citizens lack ready access to proof of citizenship, and fewer than half of U.S. adults hold a valid passport.[2] For tens of millions of Americans, basic participation would hinge on paperwork they do not have.
Obtaining replacement birth certificates or naturalization papers can take months and cost significant money, creating red-tape requirements that fall hardest on seniors, students, low-income voters, naturalized citizens, and voters of color. This voter suppression bill would also impact 69 million women who have changed their last name and don’t have a birth certificate with their current legal name on it.
These barriers shrink the electorate by design and push eligible voters out of the process before Election Day.
In 2024, 100 billionaire families spent a combined $2.6 billion to influence our elections. Since then, Republicans have passed another multi-trillion dollar tax scam to benefit the rich and corporations. At the same time, they’re making it harder for regular people to vote.
These SAVE Act bills are part of a coordinated strategy to reshape federal elections ahead of the 2026 midterms. Republican leaders are attempting to nationalize voter suppression by layering federal mandates on top of existing state systems, overwhelming election offices, and shrinking the electorate through paperwork traps and legal threats.
This is a 21st Century form of a poll tax.
Send a message to Congress demanding they reject the SAVE Act bills and stop this nationwide voter suppression scheme before it becomes law.
The bill also pressures states to run continuous voter roll purges and exposes election officials to private lawsuits for registering voters without the newly required paperwork. Election administrators would be forced to choose between serving their communities and protecting themselves from legal risk. Voters would face confusion, delays, and intimidation. The predictable result is fewer people able to register and fewer ballots cast.
Voting rights exist so eligible people can participate without obstruction, intimidation, or administrative sabotage. Democracy depends on access, trust, and participation, not on restrictive documentation rules that millions of citizens cannot meet on demand.
Members of both the House and Senate need to hear from us that these bills must be stopped and that any effort to move them forward will be met with public opposition and accountability.
This moment is a test of how far Congress is willing to go to undermine the electorate itself. Allowing the SAVE Act bills to advance sends a signal that lawmakers are willing to sacrifice democratic participation for partisan advantage.
Take action now and tell your Representative and Senators to reject the SAVE Act bills and defend the right to vote in federal elections.
Together, we can stop this attack on democracy.
David Kass
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
[1] GOP fast tracks monster voter suppression bill that could disenfranchise millions by requiring proof of citizenship at polls
[2] 21.3 Million American Citizens of Voting Age Don’t Have Ready Access to Citizenship Documents
