1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the SAVE Act, which passed the US House on February 11, 2026. This legislation would impose an unconstitutional barrier to voting by requiring documentation that comes at a significant financial cost to citizens. Requiring a passport to vote effectively creates a poll tax, which has been illegal since the ratification of the 24th Amendment in 1964. A standard US passport book costs $130 for adults, with an additional $35 execution fee, totaling $165. A passport card costs $30 with the same $35 execution fee, totaling $65. These costs place an undue burden on citizens exercising their fundamental right to vote, particularly those with limited financial resources. The Supreme Court has consistently held that states cannot impose fees that restrict access to the ballot. In Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, the Court ruled that making affluence a condition of voting violates the Equal Protection Clause. The SAVE Act would do exactly that by requiring citizens to pay substantial fees for documentation before they can participate in our democracy. This requirement is also discriminatory. Millions of Americans, particularly low-income individuals, elderly citizens, and people of color, do not possess passports and cannot afford the expense of obtaining one. According to the State Department, only 37% of Americans hold valid passports. Requiring this documentation would disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters who have voted successfully for years using other forms of identification. The League of Women Voters has identified the SAVE Act as an unnecessary barrier to voting, and I agree with their assessment. While the Senate filibuster may prevent passage, I urge you to publicly oppose this legislation and commit to voting against it should it come to the floor. Our democracy depends on removing barriers to participation, not erecting new ones that discriminate based on economic status.