1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding your recent vote in favor of advancing the SAVE Act. I understand that you may believe this decision aligns with the interests of your rural constituency; however, I must emphasize that this vote has serious, negative repercussions for countless families like mine. Your support for the SAVE Act threatens the fundamental rights of women, including my wife and our daughters. The act, as proposed, creates undue burdens for women by complicating the process of verifying essential identity markers such as a changed last name. For my wife, who has legally changed her last name, this adds an unnecessary hurdle when attempting to exercise her right to vote. The requirement effectively acts as a tax on women, as it imposes an extra cost – for example, a $200 fee for a passport – in order to obtain proper documentation. The need to prove a legitimate name change is particularly troubling when such verification is not readily available or affordable, and when failures in this process could lead to unjust denial of voting rights. I believe that our governmental policies should empower voters and support their participation in our democratic process rather than hinder it. By supporting this act, it appears that you are prioritizing a narrow segment of your electorate over the broader, fundamental rights of all citizens, including those in your district who are directly affected by these policies. I urge you to reconsider your position on this critical issue. Please work to ensure that policies and laws are designed to protect and enhance the right to vote for all, rather than imposing additional burdens on women. Our democratic system relies on fair and equal access for every voter, and it is imperative that elected officials take decisive action to protect these rights. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I strongly encourage you to reevaluate your stance on the SAVE Act and consider the deep, lasting effects such policies have on families and communities across our nation.