1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose HB22, the SAVE Act, which would impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration in federal elections. This legislation solves a virtually non-existent problem while creating substantial barriers that will prevent eligible American citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote. The bill mandates that states require documents like birth certificates, passports, or naturalization certificates before accepting any voter registration application. Many eligible citizens do not routinely possess these documents. Elderly voters, low-income individuals, and those born in states with incomplete vital records systems will face particular hardship. Naturalized citizens may struggle to obtain decades-old naturalization records. The practical effect will be a significant reduction in voter registration rates among Americans who have every legal right to vote. HB22 imposes a massive unfunded mandate on states, requiring them to establish verification systems, develop database interfaces with the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security, train personnel, and retroactively verify millions of existing registrations. The legislation provides no federal appropriations for these costs, forcing states to redirect resources from other critical election administration functions. The bill's private right of action provision will expose election officials to extensive litigation, increasing legal defense costs and creating uncertainty across jurisdictions. States lose all discretion to establish alternative verification methods or hardship exceptions, creating rigid requirements that may disenfranchise eligible voters unable to obtain documentary proof despite their citizenship status. This legislation represents a dramatic federal intrusion into election administration, an area traditionally managed by states. The documentary requirements may effectively function as a poll tax if acquisition costs condition voting on payment, raising serious constitutional concerns under the Twenty-Fourth Amendment. I ask that you oppose HB22 and protect the voting rights of eligible American citizens who should not face unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles to participate in our democracy.