1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the SAVE Act, which the House of Representatives passed for the second time in April 2025. This legislation would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, creating unnecessary barriers for eligible voters while solving a problem that does not exist. It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. Voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering. The SAVE Act's additional documentation requirement is redundant and divisive, imposing burdens on Americans who have every right to participate in our democracy. This bill would disproportionately harm specific groups of eligible voters. Military families would need to present documentation every time they re-register when they move to support our national defense. Families recovering from natural disasters who have lost vital documents would face additional obstacles while rebuilding their lives. Americans who have changed their names, including married women, would need to secure updated documentation before exercising their fundamental right to vote. The racial disparities created by this legislation are particularly troubling. Citizens of color are three times more likely than white citizens to lack documents such as birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, or certificates of citizenship, or to face difficulties accessing them. While approximately half of all American adults possess a passport, two-thirds of Black Americans do not. Our democracy is strengthened when all eligible citizens can participate, not when we erect unnecessary barriers that prevent Americans from voting. The SAVE Act would make voting harder for military families, disaster survivors, and millions of citizens of color while addressing a virtually nonexistent problem. I urge you to reject the SAVE Act and protect voting access for all eligible Americans.