The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act aims to restrict noncitizen voting — which is exceptionally rare and illegal. But voting rights advocates warn it could risk disenfranchising U.S. citizens who don’t have proof of citizenship readily available.
- Other “[v]alid government-issued photo identification” cards that do not indicate birthplace or citizenship must be presented alongside a birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, an adoption decree or other listed forms of documentation demonstrating status or birthplace.
- The Brennan Center writes that the bill would “functionally eliminate mail registration” because it requires people to present documentary proof of citizenship in person.
- The bill directs states to establish a process for applicants to provide “additional documentation” to establish that the applicant is a citizen “in the event of a discrepancy with respect to the applicant’s documentary proof of United States citizenship.”
Reality check: Citizenship is already a requirement to vote.
As many as 69 million women who’ve changed their last name to match their spouse’s do not have birth certificates that match their legal names… This in-person requirement for proof of citizenship would also eliminate many popular registration methods such as registration by mail, voter registration drives, online voter registration, and automatic voter registration… It is already illegal for non-U.S. citizens to vote.
The SAVE Act would not allow proof of name change or a marriage certificate as acceptable proof of identity, impacting anyone with birth certificates that don’t match their current legal names. (NorthJersey.com)
This bill has passed 220-208; All Indiana representatives voted yea except Reps Mrvan and Carson who voted nay. View the vote. It moves to the Senate now where at least 7 democrats would have to support the bill for it to pass.
Below is an excellent breakdown from one of our newest Indivisible members, along with contact numbers for our Indiana senators.
