Washington, D.C. — At President Donald Trump’s urging, Congress is intent on passing an even more extreme version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act that failed to pass last year.
But no matter what the far right calls these “show your papers” bills, a new analysis from the Center for American Progress reveals how this push to require Americans to show a passport or birth certificate to vote threatens to silence millions.
The SAVE America Act is an effort to limit which citizens can vote, not improve election integrity. The requirement to present documents proving citizenship to register to vote could block millions of Americans who do not have such documentation from casting a ballot. The requirement to do so in person would effectively ban the voter registration methods that 94 percent of Americans use and make it much more difficult for many rural Americans to register to vote.
And despite claims from the president that the SAVE Act would ensure Republicans win elections, based on data, Republican voters are actually more likely to face obstacles under the legislation, including showing the two primary forms of citizenship required.
The analysis notes that the renewed push to pass the SAVE Act is not happening in isolation. Last summer, President Donald Trump ignited a redistricting arms race when he ordered Texas to gerrymander for five additional Republican-leaning congressional seats. More recently, there are reports that Trump plans to declare a national emergency so he can ban the use of mail-in ballots and voting machines. It’s all about manipulating the rules and taking away the power of the American people to hold politicians accountable with their votes.
Read the analysis: “The SAVE America Act Explained: How the New ‘Show Your Papers’ Voting Bill Is Even More Extreme Than the SAVE Act” by Gréta Bedekovics
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].