Tell Congress “Hell No!” to the SAVE America Act

SEE THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE AND SOURCES. 

The framers of the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) America Act (2026) say it aims to safeguard federal election integrity by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. While supported by Republicans, it faces opposition over the potential disenfranchisement of millions. 

The following provides a clearer picture of why this is disenfranchisement. 

The act requires presenting a photo ID along with other documentation that proves citizenship to register to vote and an application process for mail in voting. If the name on the proof-of-citizenship document does not match the current ID (e.g., due to marriage), an affidavit or further documentation must be provided. “More than 9 percent of American citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, don’t have proof of citizenship readily available.” *

Most U.S. states charge a fee for state IDs with few exceptions and also charge fees ranging from approximately $7 to $30 for birth certificates, again with few exceptions. Meeting these standards takes time and has costs either directly or indirectly. Also, there is no U.S. state that provides certified copies of marriage licenses/certificates for free. Official, certified copies typically cost between $10 and $35 per request, depending on the state and county.

Because of the costs and efforts required, this act would require many Americans to choose between basic necessities and getting the documentation needed to be able to vote. The following is why:

Based on 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data, approximately 35.9 million people (10.6% of the population) live below the official poverty line which is an annual income below $15,650 for an individual or $32,150 for a family of four. **, *** 

In the least expensive U.S. states, a single person needs approximately $39,000 to $42,000 annually, and a family of four $82,000 to $92,000, to cover basic necessities like housing, food, and transportation. †,††  Roughly 26% of individual workers in the U.S. have an annual income of $30,000 or less. †††

Therefore, it is not feasible for those already struggling to survive to take the time off and go through the expense necessary to excersize their voting rights if this act is passed. This legislation should never have made it to the floor without it also creating a pathway for all US citizens to have access to free ID’s, birth certificates and marriage certificates. This increased burden only widens the divide between the haves and the have nots. 

Also Pertinent: 

According to a Kansas study, noncitizen registration in Kansas was exceedingly rare, accounting for about 0.002% of registered voters. After adoption, the documentary proof of citizenship requirement prevents roughly 31,000 eligible citizens, or 12% of all applicants, from registering to vote. In short, the law prevented far more citizens from registering to vote than noncitizens. §

How to Take Action:

Call your senator and tell them in no uncertain terms that you will not support this legislation without it also creating a pathway to free access to attaining the proper ID and proof of citizenship required to vote, and also a fair timeline in which to get this accomplished. Let them know that without this, they are complicit in disenfranchising millions of Americans and playing to the whims of a tyrant. 

You can use the following link to identify the phone number for your local US Senator.  

https://www.senate.gov/senators/

There is also a 5-Calls task for the same topic with contact information provided.  Here is a link to that page.  

https://5calls.org/issue/save-act-voter-suppression/

Your voice matters, but it only has power if you use it. That is why we are here, to encourage you and many others to use your voices together so that collectively we can make a difference.  

Sources:

* https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/millions-americans-dont-have-documents-proving-their-citizenship-readily

** https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/p60-287.html

*** https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/federal-poverty-level-fpl/#:~:text=Income%20below%20100%25%20FPL:%20You%20probably%20won't,refers%20to.%20%22modified%20adjusted%20gross%20income%22%20(MAGI).

† https://www.nbcboston.com/news/business/money-report/15-u-s-states-with-the-lowest-cost-of-living-a-single-person-can-live-there-comfortably-on-20-an-hour/3421699/#:~:text=The%20state%20with%20the%20lowest,Wisconsin:%20$42%2C*062

†† https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-states-require-least-money-150026800.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAH8b7UY9oc3C5dQw70dGA-ucNUQ6JVvzDRw6le9jpq0qEVMCsVKcNhpvS-ouvS-1OP1gAXSRnJDWfqCyP_74mNc2dmoBhUGUjLLIgqC0ppqYvu0cxxjSPZgb_jeCB2ELYWy-q3N9PZarISqI4Hf6K5baih9dnd5zVXJ3e8Kdx4Vw

††† https://dqydj.com/average-median-top-individual-income-percentiles/

§ https://bipartisanpolicy.org/article/five-things-to-know-about-the-save-act/