1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) proposes sweeping changes to voter registration that would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. Requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship like a birth certificate or passport to register would create significant barriers, as an estimated 21.3 million voting-age citizens lack easy access to such documents. This disproportionately affects people of color, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Furthermore, millions of married women who changed their names would face additional hurdles. Implementing this law would also overhaul voter registration drives and likely require in-person visits to election offices, severely limiting access for rural voters and those unable to take time off work. Meanwhile, election officials voice concerns over proper implementation and fear prosecution for inevitable human errors given the criminal penalties outlined. Rather than protecting election integrity, the SAVE Act appears aimed at voter suppression by adding unnecessary and costly documentary requirements that depart from existing protocols which already confirm citizenship through sworn affidavits and cross-checks against state and federal databases. This bill would undermine rather than safeguard American democracy by depressing voter participation across demographics. I urge you to reject the SAVE Act and any measures that create undue burdens on the fundamental right to vote.