Dear John,
As we approach midterm elections in November, voting rights opponents are ramping up their efforts to confuse and complicate voting procedures.
You and your friends, family, and neighbors deserve trusted, clear information about voting rights and changes to voter ID laws.
That’s why I’m sending you this email that is a bit longer than what we normally like to send. But this is full of important, timely, and accurate information from around the country on the state of voter ID. Please read it carefully and share it with anyone who has questions, or might be impacted by changing voter ID laws. And if you ever have any questions or need free help getting your documents, be sure to reach out to VoteRiders directly through our Helpline! |
The SAVE America Act has failed for now, but confusion lingers.
The US Senate has failed to advance the SAVE America Act. The bill stalled thanks to grassroots pressure and principled bipartisan opposition. The SAVE America Act is a dangerous piece of legislation that, if enacted, would have created new barriers to the ballot box and threatened the voting rights of millions of Americans.
On behalf of all of us at VoteRiders, thank you for making your voice heard by calling, emailing, and marching to demand your Senators protect the freedom to vote. We celebrate and acknowledge the Senators who stood firm against this assault on our democracy, speaking for over 1,000 minutes in opposition to this bill and ensuring both their colleagues and the entire country understood what was at stake.
At VoteRiders, we know firsthand how challenging, costly, and confusing it can be to navigate ID barriers to the ballot box. We are proud to have worked alongside a broad coalition of allies in this fight to stop yet another unnecessary and harmful obstacle from being forced upon eligible voters. Our team is grateful that our research and stories of the real-world impact of voter ID laws were able to inform a robust public debate.
We know this victory is not the end of the road. Though the SAVE America Act has stalled, the confusion it caused persists. We continue to get questions about it through our Voter ID Helpline, and we are mounting a large-scale voter education campaign to let people know what ID they do and don’t need ahead of the midterms. |
State-level threats to voting rights persist.
Even without the SAVE America Act, millions of Americans face ID-related obstacles in order to vote. Today, Americans in 38 states — more than ever before — live in a state with a voter ID law, and numerous states across the country are either considering or already enacting their own state-specific versions of the SAVE America Act. Some states have passed voter ID rules that will be in effect for the first time in the upcoming midterm elections: -
New Hampshire: Starting in June of this year, student ID will no longer be accepted at the polls, and student voters will need to produce an alternative form of ID to successfully cast a ballot.
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Mississippi: Starting in July of this year, newly registered voters will be checked against the Department of Public Safety driver's license and identification information and a notoriously error-prone federal database. Voters flagged as suspected noncitizens will have to provide proof of citizenship, such as a US birth certificate or passport.
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Utah: Utah has enacted a documentary proof of citizenship law for newly registered voters. Election officials must also conduct a review of current registered voters by July 1, 2026, and use state and federal data sources to identify potential noncitizens. If flagged voters do not respond to a notice and provide proof of citizenship, they could be removed from the voter rolls.
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South Dakota: South Dakota has enacted a documentary proof of citizenship law for all voters. Anyone who does not provide documentary proof of citizenship such as passport or birth certificate will be registered to vote in federal elections only, not state or local elections.
In each of these states, VoteRiders is working closely with partner groups to educate impacted voters on the changing rules before they go to the polls.
We’re also closely monitoring proposed changes to voter ID laws that would take effect in 2027 and beyond: -
Florida: The state legislature passed a very harmful bill earlier this year that will go into effect and disenfranchise eligible voters as soon as next year, pending litigation. Starting in 2027, student ID will no longer be an accepted form of ID to vote, and proof of citizenship will be required for voter registration. Election officials will have to compare voter registration lists with other databases that are known to have errors in citizenship data. Those flagged as suspected noncitizens will risk being purged and will have to provide documents to prove their citizenship to remain registered.
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Arizona: Several bills that would limit the freedom to vote are before the legislature, and if enacted will become a ballot measure for voters to decide this November. These bills would put a documentary proof of citizenship law into the state constitution, and another would add a photo ID requirement to mail voting. Since about 3/4 of Arizona voters vote by mail, this would significantly expand the harm caused by the state’s voter ID rules. You can take action now to protect mail voting in Arizona!
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California: In late April, a voter ID ballot initiative officially cleared the signature threshold and will be on the ballot this November. Californians will be voting on whether or not to add new ID rules for in-person and mail-in voting. Our research shows that nearly one in five Californians – 4.5 million citizens of voting age – do not have a current driver’s license with up-to-date information on it, and would be seriously impacted if this ballot initiative passes.
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Voters should choose their politicians, not the other way around.
On top of all of these changes and proposed changes, last week the Supreme Court seriously weakened the protections of Article 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling in Louisiana v. Callais makes it harder for everyone in our country to participate and be represented fairly. This is a ruling that attempts to limit the progress and promise of a thriving, multiracial democracy. At VoteRiders, we believe in a democracy that represents all of us, in which every voter’s voice is heard regardless of race, age, income, or any other factor. We believe voters should be able to choose their representatives, not the other way around.
That’s why we’re working to pass broader, bolder protections for voting rights, like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. States must also rise to meet the challenges of this moment with pro-democracy legislation that protects voting rights despite rising barriers to the ballot box and enduring challenges to fair representation. |
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