Republicans in Congress have passed the SAVE America Act, a revamped version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which failed last year. This dangerous bill threatens the freedom to vote. Instead of strengthening our democracy, it creates unnecessary barriers that would make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to register and cast a ballot. Working people, seniors, students, military families and married women who have changed their names would be among those most affected. At a time when we should be expanding participation, this bill moves our country backward.
Any version of the SAVE Act would eliminate online and mail voter registration, forcing people to register in person—even for simple updates. It would require costly and difficult-to-obtain documents like passports or birth certificates, even though millions of eligible Americans do not have them. It would also enable voter roll purges using flawed data and threaten election workers with criminal penalties for doing their jobs. There is no evidence that widespread voter fraud exists to justify these extreme measures. This bill is about restricting access to the ballot, not protecting it.
If passed, the SAVE America Act would:
- Make voter registration harder by eliminating online and mail options.
- Require burdensome documentation that many eligible voters do not have.
- Undermine vote-by-mail systems relied on by millions of Americans.
- Increase the risk of eligible voters being wrongfully purged from the voter rolls.
- Threaten election workers with lawsuits and criminal penalties.
AFT members believe every eligible voter deserves a voice. We must reject the SAVE Act in all its forms and protect the freedom to vote.