WASHINGTON, DC — Despite numerous calls to Congress and floods of concerns from constituents at town hall events, today the House of Representatives passed the extremely unpopular and highly controversial bill, the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility” (SAVE) Act (H.R.22/S.128).
Under the guise of ‘election integrity’, the SAVE Act has become the latest trojan horse through which a faction of extremist Congressional Republicans are attempting to suppress our freedom to vote. By requiring every American citizen to present documentation, chiefly by presenting a passport or a birth certificate, in person to prove their citizenship when registering to vote or updating their voter registration, the SAVE Act would make it significantly harder, if not outright impossible, for millions of eligible voters to register to vote and have their voices heard.
Nationwide, more than 140 million Americans do not possess a passport, and many others do not have immediate access to their birth certificates. Additionally, a report from the Center for American Progress found that as many as 69 million women who have taken their spouse’s name do not have a birth certificate matching their legal name. Experts warn that this legislation would also impact rural and military voters, young voters, and communities of color.
Following a House vote Thursday advancing the legislation, Declaration For American Democracy (DFAD) co-directors Allison Pulliam and Christine Wood say this proposal is a dangerous effort to block voter access and cast doubt on the legitimacy of U.S. elections.
“This extremist proposal would make it harder than it already is for millions of citizens to cast a ballot. We cannot let American voices be silenced by the SAVE Act,” said Pulliam.
“The SAVE Act is just the latest example of a string of schemes to make voting more difficult for citizens while hiding behind a thin veil of disinformation and false claims about our elections.” said Wood “The Senate must stand firm and reject this legislation.”
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