1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

The SAVE Act, if enacted, would severely undermine voter registration efforts by nonpartisan organizations and disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the nation. The requirement to provide documentary proof of citizenship such as a passport or birth certificate in person would create overwhelming barriers for many Americans, impacting low-income individuals, younger and elderly voters, those without easy access to transportation, and frequent movers. Even obtaining these documents can be challenging, with an estimated 21 million eligible voters lacking ready access to proof of citizenship. Furthermore, the elimination of online and third-party voter registration drives would cripple outreach efforts, leaving many communities unserved. While safeguarding the integrity of elections is crucial, existing laws already criminalize non-citizen voting, which is exceedingly rare. The SAVE Act's sweeping measures are an overreaction that threatens to disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible American citizens in an attempt to address a virtually non-existent problem. This legislation would deal a severe blow to voter participation and our democratic process. For these reasons, Congress must reject the SAVE Act and instead focus on measures that strengthen voter engagement while upholding election security through reasonable, evidence-based policies. Erecting unnecessary barriers that prevent eligible citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote undermines the very principles of a representative democracy.