1. United States
2. Ky.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the SAVE America Act, Senator Lee's updated election security legislation that would impose strict photo ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements for federal elections. While I understand the intent to secure our elections, this bill would create significant barriers to voting for millions of eligible American citizens. It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, with violations resulting in felony charges or deportation. Studies consistently show that instances of noncitizens voting are rare and often occur by mistake. This legislation addresses a problem that does not exist at any meaningful scale while creating substantial obstacles for legitimate voters. The Brennan Center for Justice found that more than 9% of U.S. voters, approximately 21.3 million people, do not have citizenship documents readily available. This would particularly impact married women who changed their last names, requiring them to obtain multiple documents like birth certificates or naturalization certificates simply to exercise their constitutional right to vote. The bill's requirement for REAL ID-compliant identification, passports, or other citizenship documents, along with supplementary proof for IDs that don't show birthplace, creates a complex bureaucratic maze that will discourage participation. With 48 of 49 Republican senators already signed on as co-sponsors and Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicating he will schedule a vote, this legislation has significant momentum. However, disenfranchising 21.3 million eligible voters to address an essentially nonexistent problem is not a reasonable trade-off. Some House members are even threatening to block must-pass spending legislation unless this bill advances, which should not dictate sound policy. I urge you to oppose the SAVE America Act and instead focus on policies that expand access to voting while maintaining election security. Our democracy is strengthened when more eligible citizens participate, not when we erect unnecessary barriers to the ballot box.