With all the decisions the current administration is making, Americans have been on edge about voting rights. Over the last few days, many Americans were worried about the SAVE Act being passed, and the answer received was quite shocking.
On April 10, the House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — SAVE On a 220-208 vote as it heads to the Senate for final approval.
The SAVE Act would require people registering to vote to present proof of citizenship — passport, U.S. birth certificate, or naturalization papers in person at an election office. The Act would end voter registration drives, mail-in, and online registration.
“I am leading the fight in the Senate to push back against this effort to disrupt our already safe and secure elections. This bill cannot pass the Senate. I will fight every step of the way to block it,” said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, after the House vote. He earlier stated his opposition to the bill.
More than 150 million Americans lack passports. Millions of married women do not have birth certificates that match their current names. Overall, 21 million eligible voters lack birth certificates, predominantly in rural areas.
Additionally, transgender people largely lack identity documents that match the names on their birth certificates. They would also be ineligible to vote. Disabled voters who cannot present their proof of citizenship documents in person, would also be stricken from election rosters.
”This is voter suppression, plain and simple,” said Rep. Joe Morelle, D-New York, at a March 31 press conference in Washington DC, organized to oppose the SAVE Act. Leaders from several civil rights organizations spoke at the news conference to express their opposition to the SAVE Act.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who introduced HR 22 in the House, has alleged that “millions of illegal aliens” are voting in U.S. elections, including “bad actors” seeking to undermine election results.
“To preserve this republic, we must uphold what it means to be able to vote in a U.S. election. I am grateful that my colleagues answered the call and passed the SAVE Act, as this serves as a critical first step to ensure that we maintain election integrity throughout our country. It is now up to the Senate to take up, pass, and send this important bill to President Trump’s desk,” said Roy in a statement after the bill was passed.
All House Republicans, along with 4 Democrats, voted for the bill — HR 22 — which now heads to the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to pass. Several pundits predict the measure faces long odds in the Senate and is unlikely to pass because it would need the support of 7 Democrats.
