The SAVE Act Is Dangerous for Democracy
The recently passed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act severely threatens democracy by requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. These measures are unnecessary given existing laws that already prevent noncitizen voting. This legislation disproportionately impacts marginalized groups, potentially disenfranchising millions of eligible voters. The SAVE Act is part of a broader trend of restrictive voting laws, rooted in a misleading narrative about voter fraud, and while it is unlikely to become law this year, it signals possible future efforts to limit voting access. Read VoteRiders CEO and Executive Director Lauren Kunis’ statement for more.
BY LAUREN KUNIS, CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VOTERIDERS — JULY 11, 2024
Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Do not be fooled by this euphemistic name: The SAVE Act would be terrible for democracy by creating powerful new barriers to voter registration for eligible US citizens.
This dangerous and unnecessary bill would require that voters present “documentary proof of citizenship” (e.g. a vital document proving US citizenship like a US birth certificate, US passport, or naturalization certificate) to register to vote.
This legislation is being put forth as part of a sweeping and wholly false narrative that noncitizens are voting in federal elections. In reality, every state already requires that voters affirm their US citizenship at the time they register. The existing penalties for non-US citizens to attempt to vote in federal elections are steep and serious. Our current laws are already extremely effective at preventing unlawful voter registration and voting.
We don’t think this legislation will become law this year, as it would face steep hurdles to passage in the Senate and would be unlikely to be signed by the president. But it is a dangerous preview of what’s to come. It’s very possible that this legislation will be reintroduced next year, and copycat bills are already popping up in statehouses across the country.
Voter ID and Requiring Documentary Proof of Citizenship are Barriers to Voting
VoteRiders’ new research shows that millions of Americans would not be able to comply with the documentary proof of citizenship requirements set out by the SAVE Act, and would be blocked from voter registration if it were enacted.
As I shared with NPR last month, 21.3 million people (that’s 9.1% of voting-age American citizens) do not have easy access to proof of citizenship documents. Millions of voters do not possess these documents in the first place. They may have been lost or stolen, and the financial, time, and bureaucratic barriers to replacing them are prohibitive. Some voters, particularly elderly voters and especially elderly Black voters in the South, were born outside of hospitals and may never have received a birth certificate at all.
We know how difficult locating and replacing these documents can be, because VoteRiders works with eligible voters every day who are in need of help navigating these expensive and time consuming bureaucratic “doom loops”. (Just check out Edward’s story, who had to visit a DMV two dozen times before getting his state ID.)
Stricter rules like the SAVE Act will disproportionately impact voters of color, but the harm does not stop there. Millions would be unable to register or vote, spanning geographies, political ideologies, and affiliations — weakening our shared democracy.
This is Part of a Harmful Trend
The SAVE Act is part of a larger trend making it harder for people to vote. Voter ID laws are part of a broad, well-funded, and deliberate effort to block millions of Americans from the voting booth. Voter ID requirements aren’t about security at the ballot box, they’re about blocking voters from accessing it.
Currently, 38 states have voter ID laws of some kind. This is the highest number in our nation’s history, and new ones are being proposed every day. They are directly responsible for millions of voters being turned away from the polls or not showing up at all due to confusion, shame, or fear.
What You Can Do Now
We are deeply disappointed, but not surprised, to see that the House of Representatives has passed the SAVE Act.
Fear-mongering and divisive rhetoric will continue to be used through 2024 and beyond, trying to scare people into thinking that non-citizens are voting in federal elections and that US elections aren’t secure.
The spreading of disinformation and fear is intended to suppress broad and diverse voter engagement and turnout.
Here’s what we can do to help voters who want to participate in our democracy even as voter ID laws multiply:
- Spread the word. If you or anyone you know needs accurate, up-to-date information about whether you need ID to vote or what ID you can use, VoteRiders.org is always updated with trustworthy and accurate information.
- Volunteer. Our volunteers help us reach millions of at risk voters through texting, letter writing, and one-on-one help. There are five opportunities to volunteer with VoteRiders in July.
- Donate. Every dollar helps us reach more voters and cover their fees when securing an ID. Donate right now and your donation will be DOUBLED by a group of generous donors.
For more than 12 years, VoteRiders has helped millions of eligible voters understand the voter ID laws where they live and secure their ID. As the need grew, so did we. And we don’t plan to back off or slow down anytime soon.
Thanks to our incredible staff, our network of nearly 2,000 partner organizations, the dedication of our 10,000 volunteers, and the thousands of VoteRiders donors and supporters, we can reach millions of people with the information and free help they need in order to participate in our democracy this November and beyond.
