- United States
- Fla.
- Letter
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, recently passed by the House of Representatives. This legislation poses significant threats to the voting rights of millions of Americans, particularly married women who have changed their surnames — and is a dangerous precedent for the rights of all women.
The SAVE Act mandates in-person presentation of specific citizenship documents—such as a passport or birth certificate—to register or update voter registration. This requirement effectively eliminates mail and online registration options, disproportionately impacting individuals who lack immediate access to these documents. Notably, approximately 69 million women in the U.S. have legal names that differ from those on their birth certificates due to marriage, and the bill does not accept marriage certificates to reconcile these discrepancies.
Furthermore, the bill's stringent requirements could disenfranchise other vulnerable populations, including rural residents, low-income individuals, and those without ready access to the necessary documentation. An estimated 21.3 million voting-age citizens lack immediate access to the required proof of citizenship.
It's important to note that noncitizen voting is already illegal and exceedingly rare. Implementing such restrictive measures under the guise of preventing voter fraud undermines the fundamental right to vote and threatens the integrity of our democratic process.
I urge you to:
1 Vote against the SAVE Act in the Senate to protect the voting rights of all eligible Americans.
2 Publicly oppose legislation that imposes unnecessary barriers to voter registration and participation.
3 Advocate for policies that ensure fair and equitable access to the ballot for every citizen, regardless of marital status, income level, or geographic location.
Protecting the right to vote is essential to the health of our democracy. I implore you to stand against measures that would disenfranchise millions and to uphold the principles of equal access and representation.
Thank you.