Stop the SAVE

The SAVE Act, that is

They’ve introduced the SAVE Act in the House again. The full name is the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, but the bill actually does the opposite — it DENIES suffrage to many people.

The idea is that to vote, one must PROVE citizenship. This means either a valid US passport or a certified birth certificate. Not a Driver’s License, Social Security card, military ID, tribal registration, nor anything other than a valid US passport or a certified birth certificate¹.

According to the State Department, about half of Americans have passports. Do you?

A lot of people have a COPY of their birth certificate, but not the certified birth certificate. Several years ago, I needed a certified birth certificate, and it took several months to get it. And now, if I had to find it, I’d be in trouble because I have no idea where it is². How about you?

If you are a married woman with no passport, but a certified birth certificate, and you registered to vote under your married name, which you likely changed on your Social Security account and your Driver’s License, and is now your “legal” name, you’re out of luck for voting under the SAVE Act. Also true for men and women who have hyphenated last names, or men who have taken their spouse’s last name.

If you are older, and instead of a birth certificate, you were born at home, and your birth was not properly registered, you also cannot vote under the SAVE Act. This generally impacts people born prior to 1940, who have likely been voting for decades.

In addition, the SAVE Act means that all voter registration, or changes to registration, have to be accomplished in person. Currently, 42 states allow for mail in/online registration. That would be gone. Along with voter registration drives.

It means if you change your address or want to change your party, you have to go to Voter Services in person to make the change, and prove not only, say, your new address, but once again, passport or certified birth certificate. Imagine the hardship if you live in a rural area.

Versions of the SAVE Act have been previously enacted in both Arizona and Kansas. It didn’t go well. Full documentation from the Brennan Center here. TLDR: in both states, many legitimate voters were denied suffrage, the laws were found unconstitutional, and it’s all over there.

Action Item

There is already a Resistbot set up here.

Also call/write your Rep as well as your Senators (it will end up there if it gets through the House). If you would be impacted, make sure to use the formal “Contact Me” link on the official website for your Rep/Senator. You might say something like:

I am a native-born American. I have voted legally for the past __ years. Under the SAVE Act, I would no longer be able to vote because my legal name is my married name, but my maiden name is what is on my birth certificate. You are my <Congressman/Congresswoman> and I beseech you to vote against the SAVE Act so that I can vote for you in the next election³.

Your mileage may vary - but make it PERSONAL.

PLEASE share this information with everyone you know — with enough pressure on enough members of Congress, we may be able to stop this. It will involve letting peole know what is REALLY going on, and following up with them to be certain they have made contact. You can use the “Share” button below to share with your friends, family and neighbors.

1

Regarding Real ID:
The legislation states that “a form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the Real ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States” can be used to prove citizenship. However, the Real ID Act of 2005 does not include a federal requirement for Real IDs to indicate citizenship status, and no state’s Real ID indicates citizenship status on the card. Legally residing noncitizens can also get a Real ID. As it stands, this is an unworkable provision of the legislation, unless the standard for Real IDs is federally changed. Similarly, as tribal and military IDs do not indicate citizenship status, they need to be shown in conjunction with other documentation that does, meaning that alone, they do not satisfy the bill’s requirements. Source.

2. Somewhere in my house, but I have no idea WHERE. Sigh.

3. By saying “so I can vote for you” you are NOT committing to voting for the person, just expressing that you need the ABILITY to vote. It’s subtle.