Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans say the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is necessary to ensure only citizens vote in US elections.
But it is actually a voter suppression bill that would purge voters. Here’s what it would do by requiring voters to provide documentation:
- Disenfranchise over 21M (9% of voting age Americans) who do not have easy access to documentation and nearly 140M (50% of Americans) who do not own a passport
- Disenfranchise married women who changed their name, trans voters whose gender may not match their birth certificate, and native voters who rely on tribal ID
- Disproportionately affect older people in assisted care facilities, and low income Americans who may not have the time or money to get necessary documentation
- Military service members wouldn’t be able to solely use their military IDs
- Online and mail voter registration would be undermined by the bill, making it harder to register to vote
The SAVE Act is also meant to deter newly naturalized citizens from voting and make it harder for ALL eligible voters to cast a ballot. Widespread voting by non-citizens is NOT a real issue.
It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in Federal elections.
“The SAVE Act is everything our civil rights leaders fought against,” said Rep Nikema Williams (D-GA).
Sources: AP News, Common Cause, Brennan Center, Democracy Docket
