Opposition to the SAVE Act’s Discriminatory ID Requirements

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the restrictive voter ID provisions in the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, particularly the requirement that a voter’s identification must match their birth certificate, with no allowance for a marriage license or other legal name change documents. This provision is not just an inconvenience—it is a targeted and discriminatory barrier that will disenfranchise countless eligible voters, particularly women, transgender individuals, and other marginalized groups. This requirement disproportionately impacts: 1. Women Who Have Changed Their Last Names Due to Marriage or Divorce – Millions of women legally change their last names at some point in their lives. Requiring an exact match with a birth certificate while refusing to accept a marriage license or divorce decree places an undue burden on these individuals. There is no valid reason why women should be forced to jump through extra bureaucratic hoops simply to exercise their right to vote. 2. Transgender and Non-Binary Individuals – Many transgender people legally change their names to align with their gender identity, and their birth certificates may not reflect their current legal name. For those who live in states where amending a birth certificate is difficult or impossible, this provision effectively strips them of their right to vote. 3. Older Adults – Many elderly voters, particularly those born before digital record-keeping, may struggle to obtain a birth certificate, let alone one that reflects their current name. This requirement creates unnecessary obstacles for longtime voters who have participated in our democracy for decades. 4. Naturalized Citizens – Many naturalized citizens have name changes through the immigration process. Requiring an exact match with a birth certificate that was issued in another country—one that may not even exist anymore—creates an unreasonable barrier for these voters. 5. Low-Income Individuals and Those in Rural Areas – Obtaining updated documents often requires time, money, and access to government offices that may be far away. Many rural and low-income voters will face financial and logistical challenges in meeting this unnecessary requirement. The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and there is no evidence that name discrepancies due to marriage, transition, or other legal name changes contribute to voter fraud. Instead, this provision serves only to suppress the votes of women, transgender individuals, older adults, and marginalized communities. This is unacceptable. I urge you to oppose the SAVE Act and any legislation that restricts access to the ballot under the guise of election security. Voter suppression has no place in a democracy, and as your constituent, I expect you to stand for the rights of all eligible voters. I look forward to your response and to seeing your commitment to protecting fair and accessible elections.