1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act, H.R. 22), which seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of United States citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. This legislation poses significant barriers to voting and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.

According to a survey conducted by the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland, nearly 9% of voting-age U.S. citizens, or approximately 20.76 million people, do not have a current (non-expired) driver's license2. Additionally, over 1% of adult U.S. citizens, amounting to nearly 2.3 million people, do not have any form of government-issued photo identification. These individuals would face substantial difficulties in obtaining the necessary documentation to register to vote under the SAVE Act.

The survey also highlights that Black and Hispanic Americans are disproportionately less likely to have a current driver's license with their correct name and address. Over a quarter of Black adult citizens (28%) and Hispanic adult citizens (27%) lack a driver's license with their current name and/or address. This disparity underscores the discriminatory impact of the SAVE Act on minority communities.

Furthermore, the survey reveals that individuals with lower incomes are more likely to lack the required identification. Nearly 15 million people, including 9% of Democrats (8.6 million people), do not have a driver's license at all. The financial burden of obtaining documentary proof of citizenship would further disenfranchise these voters.

The SAVE Act would create unnecessary obstacles for millions of eligible voters, undermining the fundamental right to vote and weakening our democratic process. I urge you to oppose this legislation and work towards ensuring that all citizens have equal access to the ballot box.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I hope you will consider my concerns and take action to protect the voting rights of all Americans.