1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The SAVE America Act (S. 128 / H.R. 7296), is an unnecessary and damaging bill that would require voters to present proof of citizenship (typically a birth certificate or passport) every time they register or update their registration. However, there’s already a citizenship affirmation on voter registration forms and cases of actual non-citizen voting are vanishingly rare. Instead of solving a real problem, the act would end all nonpartisan nonprofit-led voter registration drives since only government officials would be able to review and accept the proof of citizenship. The bill makes no allowance for proof of citizenship to be provided digitally or via paper copies, effectively ending Online Voter Registration and mail-in registration as well, forcing Americans everywhere to travel and brave long lines every time they update their registration. Tens of millions of American citizens would be prevented from voting. As many as 21 million Americans don’t have ready access to proof of citizenship. Up to 69 million women have birth certificates that do not match their current name. Other voters lack transportation. This harmful bill disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations that nonprofits serve. Let’s not make it harder for eligible citizens to participate and for our nonprofits to engage and invite people into the civic process.