1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

This proposed SAVE Act is deeply concerning due to the barriers it would create for millions of eligible citizens to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration is an unnecessary hurdle that would disproportionately disenfranchise marginalized communities, people of color, married women, and rural voters. The data shows that around 21 million Americans lack ready access to documents like birth certificates or passports. Mandating documentary proof would depress voter participation and undermine faith in our elections. Furthermore, the criminal penalties for election officials could deter reasonable people from serving in this vital role. It is unacceptable to threaten public servants with prosecution simply for human errors or frivolous lawsuits. The vague implementation guidelines also raise concerns about unequal application across states. This legislation appears to be a solution in search of a problem, as there is no credible evidence of widespread illegal voting by non-citizens. Legitimate concerns around election integrity should be addressed through policies that preserve and expand access to the ballot, not restrict it through burdensome requirements like those proposed in the SAVE Act. I urge you to reject this bill and instead support measures that uphold the sacred right to vote for all eligible American citizens.