Since Republicans and the MAGA cult are once again pushing for the passing of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, let me highlight a few points.
You see, for Republicans the SAVE Act is NOT about voting integrity - it's about voting suppression.
PAY ATTENTION, bcos this is what the SAVE Act does:
1) Cause mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters as an estimated 21 million Americans do not have immediate access to documentary proof of citizenship (like a birth certificate or passport) bcos these documents can be expensive and time-consuming.
2) Could impact approximately 69 million women who have changed their names due to marriage or divorce, if their current legal name does not match their birth certificate, potentially requiring them to produce additional legal documents.
3) Impact low-income individuals, the elderly, and students, who are less likely to own a passport making it harder for these groups to meet the new requirements within the SAVE Act. Only about 40–50% of Americans have a passport.
4) Bcos the SAVE Act requires "in-person" presentation of original documents, it would effectively dismantle online and mail-in registration systems which are currently used by 42 states.
This Act would potentially end mail-in ballots which would disenfranchise roughly 45-48 million voters (the amount which used mail-in ballots for the 2024 presidential election).
Not to mention - There are 5 states that conduct ALL ELECTIONS entirely by mail: Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah.
There are 3 States that permit COUNTIES to opt into conducting ALL ELECTIONS by mail: California, Nebraska, North Dakota.
Imagine the impact on these States.
5) Would restrict programs that register citizens automatically at the DMV, as STANDARD driver's licenses are NOT considered proof of citizenship under the Act.
The SAVE Act calls for Enhanced Drivers Licenses (EDLs), which are state-issued licenses that provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. EDLs contain radio frequency identification (RFID) chips that are connected to a database maintained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Enhanced Drivers Licenses (EDLs) are only available in 5 states — Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington. IF the SAVE Act requires EDLs, then how are citizens in the other 45 states going to register to vote? To obtain an EDL, there are hoops you must jump through in each state.
6) End community led efforts (by groups like the League of Women Voters), as volunteers cannot legally verify or transport sensitive original citizenship documents.
7) Could create travel burdens bcos approximately 60 million rural Americans live far from government election offices. Requiring an in-person visit, as the SAVE Act requires, with original documents creates a sort of "transportation tax" on voting.
8) For military personnel the SAVE Act states, "The applicant's official United States military identification card, together with a United States military record of service showing that the applicant's place of birth was in the United States."
Can you imagine the difficulty this will provide for military personnel over seas since this Act requires in-person registration or changes? Unless MAGA Republicans want to disenfranchise military voters.
9) The SAVE Act overrides state autonomy in election administration, imposing costly changes without a phase-in period or support, potentially violating Constitutional principles of State control over elections.
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The SAVE Act could potentially affect up to 146 million Americans who lack valid passports or face barriers in providing matching citizenship documentation required by this Act.
The SAVE Act is nothing but a power grab for the Executive Branch to have more control over State election processes and procedures.
I'll say this again — for Republicans the SAVE Act is NOT about voting integrity - it's about voting suppression.
