The Senate is currently debating the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, amid pressure from President Trump to pass the legislation before the midterm elections. President Trump has stated he will not sign any other bills into law until the SAVE Act is passed. Voting rights experts suggest the bill could potentially disenfranchise millions of citizens due to difficulties accessing required documentation, such as birth certificates or passports, or given that of name changes—a situation affecting many married women and transgender individuals.
What the SAVE Act Would Do
The SAVE America Act would require voters to present either a passport or a birth certificate to register to vote. According to voting rights correspondent Ari Berman, this “present your papers” requirement could disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans. Approximately half of Americans possess a passport, and an estimated 21 million Americans do not have access to their citizenship documents.
The bill could as well end mail registration, online registration, and voter registration drives. Individuals in rural areas may be required to travel up to eight hours to register to vote in person. Some analysts believe the bill could even disenfranchise Republican voters, as states with the lowest rates of passport ownership all voted for President Trump.
Expanding Restrictions and Concerns
President Trump is now seeking to expand the SAVE America Act to include bans on trans youth healthcare and sports participation. Imara Jones, founder and CEO of TransLash Media, noted that provisions similar to the SAVE Act have already disenfranchised up to 200,000 trans people in states where they have been enacted.
Jones also explained that presenting a birth certificate can be problematic for transgender individuals, particularly in states where gender markers cannot be changed on those documents. Kansas recently retroactively invalidated the driver’s licenses of approximately 1,700 trans residents.
Potential Outcomes
Berman described the SAVE Act as a “modern-day poll tax,” arguing that it creates barriers to voting based on documentation that many citizens do not readily possess. While the bill is considered unlikely to pass, concerns remain that President Trump may take further action to interfere with the midterm elections if it fails.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SAVE America Act?
The SAVE America Act is a Republican-backed bill that would require voters to present a passport or birth certificate to register to vote in federal elections.
How many Americans lack the required documentation?
Approximately 21 million Americans do not have access to their citizenship documents, and only half of Americans have a passport.
Could this bill affect transgender voters?
Yes, up to 200,000 trans people have already been disenfranchised by similar laws in other states, and the bill could create further obstacles for transgender individuals who may not have documentation matching their current identity.
Given the potential for widespread disenfranchisement, what role should access to documentation play in determining voting eligibility?
