1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the SAVE America Act (H.R. 22/S.128), which is scheduled for a House vote during the week of February 9th. This legislation would create unnecessary barriers that prevent millions of eligible Americans from exercising their constitutional right to vote. The bill requires citizens to present a birth certificate or passport in person both when registering to vote and when casting a ballot. This may sound reasonable in theory, but the practical impact is severe. More than 21.3 million Americans lack immediate access to documentary proof of citizenship, and more than 140 million Americans do not have a passport. These are not fraudulent voters. These are eligible citizens who would be blocked from participating in our democracy. The burden falls disproportionately on specific groups. Approximately 69 million women who have taken their spouse's last name do not have a birth certificate matching their legal name. Elderly Americans are among the demographic groups least likely to have passports. Citizens of color are three times more likely than white citizens to lack the required documents. The in-person requirement would even prevent military members serving abroad from easily registering to vote. This legislation is a solution in search of a problem. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud that would justify disenfranchising millions of eligible voters. When the House passed an earlier version in April 2025 by a vote of 220 to 208, it did so without addressing the fundamental question of why we should make it harder for legitimate citizens to vote. I ask that you oppose the SAVE America Act and any similar legislation that prioritizes restrictive requirements over protecting the voting rights of all eligible Americans. Our democracy is strengthened when more citizens participate, not fewer.