Oregon Rep. Maxine Dexter passionately spoke out against the SAVE Act, calling it a voter suppression bill that would disenfranchise married women and other groups. Dexter proposed amendments to protect the voting rights of those affected, but they were rejected by House Republicans. The SAVE Act, introduced by Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, would require individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.
The bill would impact voters who need to update their registration due to circumstances like moving or changing their name. The required documents for proof of citizenship include a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a U.S. passport, or a government-issued photo ID with a certified birth certificate. Dexter argued that the bill did not consider the challenges faced by individuals who cannot easily access these documents.
Republicans argue that the legislation is necessary to prevent noncitizens from voting, even though instances of this are rare. Democrats, on the other hand, believe that the bill would create unnecessary barriers to voting for many Americans. They argue that Congress should focus on addressing the issue of noncitizens voting in a more targeted manner rather than implementing a broad requirement for proof of citizenship. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson highlighted that only a tiny fraction of potential cases of noncitizen voting have been identified, indicating that the issue is not widespread.
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