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Under the guise of “election integrity,” new legislation threatens to create unnecessary barriers to voting. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX-21) introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, H.R. 22 in early January, with a vote expected in the coming weeks. This legislation is yet another attempt to suppress the votes of marginalized communities by imposing burdensome documentation requirements for voter registration. It is important to recognize this bill as a direct attack on the democratic process and the fundamental right of all Americans to participate, especially communities of color.
The SAVE Act seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act by requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. While this may appear to be a reasonable safeguard, in practice, it creates disproportionate barriers for historically disenfranchised communities. Many U.S. citizens, particularly people of color, low-income individuals, and women, do not possess the required documentation and face significant challenges in obtaining it. Studies have shown that approximately 11% of Americans of color lack ready access to citizenship documents, compared to about 8% of white Americans. Additionally, research has found that nearly 9% of voting-age African Americans lack access to birth certificates and passports, compared to 5.5% of white Americans. Women, especially those who have changed their names due to marriage or divorce, often encounter bureaucratic hurdles when updating identification documents, making the registration process even more difficult.
This legislation is part of a broader strategy that exploits fear and misinformation to justify restrictive voting laws. Despite repeated studies debunking the myth of widespread non-citizen voting, supporters of the SAVE Act continue to push false claims to justify disenfranchising millions of Americans. The consequences of similar laws in states like Kansas demonstrate the harm that would be replicated nationwide. When Kansas implemented a proof-of-citizenship requirement, more than 31,000 otherwise eligible voters were blocked from registering, with the burden falling disproportionately on people of color and the elderly. If enacted at the federal level, the SAVE Act could prevent millions of eligible voters from participating in elections, reinforcing structural inequalities in political representation.
Beyond the immediate threat to voter access, the SAVE Act is a dangerous step toward more aggressive voter suppression efforts. The bill would enable large-scale “voter purges,” removing lawfully registered citizens from voter rolls without safeguards or notification. Recent voter purges in states like Alabama have already demonstrated how such tactics disproportionately target naturalized citizens and communities of color. Additionally, the bill’s requirement for proof of citizenship every time an individual registers to vote would make it significantly harder for voter registration drives to reach underrepresented communities.
Rather than enacting legislation that makes it harder to vote, Congress should be working to expand access to the ballot and protect voting rights. Key legislative measures, such as the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, offer real solutions to reinforcing democracy and ensuring that all Americans have a voice in the political process. Instead of perpetuating baseless claims of voter fraud, lawmakers should be focused on addressing real barriers that prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots, including voter intimidation, polling place closures, and gerrymandering.
The SAVE Act is not about election security; it is about restricting access to the ballot to maintain political power. By imposing unnecessary documentation requirements, it erects barriers that disproportionately affect communities that have historically been excluded from full democratic participation. The right to vote is fundamental to a functioning democracy.
