1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent to express my strong opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, recently passed by the House of Representatives. This legislation poses a significant threat to the fundamental right to vote for millions of eligible Americans. The SAVE Act mandates that individuals provide in-person documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register or update their voter registration. While the intention to secure our elections is understandable, this bill would inadvertently disenfranchise a substantial portion of the electorate: • Lack of Documentation: Approximately 21.3 million U.S. citizens lack ready access to documents proving their citizenship, and over 3.8 million have no such documents at all. • Disproportionate Impact on Women: Around 69 million married women who have changed their names may face challenges if their identification documents do not match their current legal names. • Barriers for Rural and Disabled Voters: Requiring in-person submission of documents would disproportionately affect rural residents and individuals with disabilities, for whom traveling to registration offices may be burdensome. • Elimination of Convenient Registration Methods: The bill would effectively dismantle online and mail-in voter registration systems, which are vital for many, especially those with limited mobility or access to transportation. Moreover, the premise of the SAVE Act addresses a problem that is virtually nonexistent. Instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare and already illegal under current laws. Implementing such restrictive measures under the guise of election integrity undermines the democratic principles our nation upholds. I urge you to oppose the SAVE Act and any similar legislation that threatens to suppress voter participation. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.