1. United States
2. Okla.
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent, an active-duty military spouse, and a federal civilian employee who has experienced the challenges of voting while living overseas. During the 2020 election, my family relied on the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to ensure our voices were heard. I am strongly opposed to the SAVE Act (H.R. 8281) because, while it claims to prevent undocumented immigrants from voting, it instead creates major barriers for military families, government employees abroad, and married women who have changed their names. The in-person citizenship verification requirement is unrealistic for those stationed overseas. Many service members, federal employees, and their families live far from U.S. embassies or consulates, making it nearly impossible to comply. If enacted, this bill would disenfranchise thousands of U.S. citizens—the very people who have dedicated their lives to serving and supporting our country. The current absentee voting system works, with the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) already verifying voter eligibility and preventing fraud. This bill does nothing to improve election integrity but does everything to suppress the votes of those serving America. The SAVE Act also disproportionately affects married women who have changed their last names. Since a birth certificate is a primary proof of citizenship, women whose married name does not match their birth certificate would need to provide additional legal documents—such as a marriage certificate—just to register to vote. This places an unnecessary burden on women, especially military spouses who already navigate frequent relocations. The stated intent of this bill—to prevent non-citizens from voting—is based on a problem that does not exist. There is no widespread evidence of non-citizen voting in federal elections, and existing laws already prevent it. Instead, the real effect of this bill would be to make voting harder for law-abiding U.S. citizens. Make no mistake—this is voter suppression. The SAVE Act will harm the very people you were elected to represent while failing to address its stated goal. The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and it should be protected, not restricted. I urge you to oppose the SAVE Act and instead support legislation that protects and expands voting rights, especially for military families, government employees, and women.