1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose the SAVE Act, which the House of Representatives passed for the second time in April 2025. This legislation would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, creating unnecessary barriers for eligible American voters while solving a problem that does not exist. It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. Voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering. The SAVE Act's additional documentation requirement is redundant and divisive, imposing burdens on Americans who have every right to participate in our democracy. This bill would disproportionately harm specific groups of eligible voters. Military families would need to present documentation every time they re-register when they move to support our national defense. Americans impacted by natural disasters who have lost vital documents would face additional obstacles while rebuilding their lives. Citizens who have changed their names, including married women, would need to secure updated documentation before exercising their constitutional right to vote. The racial disparities are particularly troubling. Citizens of color are three times more likely than white citizens to lack documents such as birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, or certificates of citizenship, or to face difficulties accessing them. While approximately half of all American adults possess a passport, two-thirds of Black Americans do not. Rather than protecting election integrity, the SAVE Act would prevent eligible American citizens from voting. I ask you to reject this legislation and protect the voting rights of all qualified citizens, including military families, disaster survivors, and communities of color who would face the greatest barriers under this unnecessary law.