1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

The SAVE Act seeks to impose strict citizenship documentation requirements for voter registration that could disenfranchise many eligible voters and create unnecessary barriers to voting. Obtaining the required documents like birth certificates or passports can be difficult for some citizens, especially those from underserved communities. The SAVE Act represents a dangerous departure from fulfilling this duty, and as currently written, this bill will make it significantly harder, if not outright impossible, for millions of Republican, Democratic, and independent voters to register to vote and have their voices heard. Federal law already states that it is illegal for non-U.S. citizens to register to vote or cast a ballot in a federal election (18 U.S. C. § 1015). It's an existing crime that is punishable by up to five years in prison. Election officials already use extensive state and federal data, including citizenship data, to verify an individual's eligibility to cast a ballot. This restrictive legislation undermines the fundamental right to vote. I urge you to reject this bill as it threatens to exclude lawful citizens from the democratic process without sufficient justification. Protecting voter access for all eligible citizens should be the priority. The SAVE Act is an antidemocratic, anti-woman piece of legislation that would block millions of legally registered voters simply because they changed their last name. Women who have been voting for decades could suddenly find themselves shut out of the democratic process. This is voter suppression at its worst.