1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose SB128, the SAVE Act, which would create substantial barriers to voter registration for eligible U.S. citizens under the guise of preventing noncitizen voting. This legislation threatens fundamental voting rights while addressing a problem that barely exists. The bill requires documentary proof of citizenship for all federal election voter registration, mandating documents like REAL ID-compliant identification, passports, or naturalization certificates. Many eligible voters lack these documents. Millions of native-born citizens, particularly elderly individuals and those born in rural areas with limited historical record-keeping, do not possess birth certificates or the eight specified forms of identification. The alternative affidavit process lacks detailed procedural safeguards, creating potential for inconsistent and discriminatory enforcement. The legislation will disproportionately burden minority, low-income, and elderly populations who face greater challenges obtaining the required documentation. This raises serious equal protection concerns under the Fourteenth Amendment. The private right of action provision invites extensive litigation that could overwhelm election officials, while criminal penalties for providing material assistance may chill legitimate voter registration activities by community organizations. Research shows noncitizen voting occurs at extremely low rates, making the administrative burdens and barriers to legitimate registration both disproportionate and unjustified. This bill prioritizes theoretical concerns over the practical reality that it will prevent eligible citizens from exercising their constitutional right to vote. I ask you to oppose SB128 and protect the voting rights of all eligible citizens in your district.