SAVE Act Sparks Controversy Over Voter Disenfranchisement

2025-03-01

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, reintroduced by Texas Representative Chip Roy, has sparked significant controversy over its potential to disenfranchise millions of American citizens, particularly married women and rural voters. The legislation, aimed at ensuring only U.S. citizens can vote, would require individuals to present in-person documentation, such as a passport or birth certificate, to prove citizenship when registering to vote. Critics argue that this requirement disproportionately affects women who have changed their names after marriage, as their birth certificates may not match their current legal names. According to the Center for American Progress, approximately 69 million married women in the U.S. could be impacted by this provision.

The SAVE Act also poses challenges for millions of Americans who lack passports, with nearly 146 million citizens not possessing one. Rural residents, who make up over 60 million people, would face additional hurdles due to the requirement to present documentation in person, effectively ending mail-in and online voter registration. The legislation has been criticized for reversing decades of progress in voter registration accessibility, with opponents arguing it would disproportionately disenfranchise working-class, lower-income, and rural Americans.

Supporters of the bill, including Representative Roy, claim it is necessary to prevent noncitizens from voting, despite existing laws that already make it illegal for noncitizens to cast ballots. However, critics point out that the bill’s stringent requirements could create significant barriers for eligible voters, particularly women and those in red states with lower passport ownership rates. The Campaign Legal Center has warned that the SAVE Act could prevent over 21 million Americans from registering to vote, with people of color, married individuals, and the elderly being most affected.

The bill’s reintroduction comes amid a broader debate over voter integrity and accessibility, with Democrats and voting rights advocates arguing that the legislation is a solution in search of a problem. While the SAVE Act is likely to pass with Republican control of Congress, its implementation could face legal challenges, as similar state-level measures have been struck down in the past. The legislation’s potential to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters has drawn widespread criticism, with opponents calling it an unnecessary and harmful barrier to democratic participation.

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Controversial SAVE Act Proposes Stringent Voter Registration Requirements - Mahomet Daily

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