Jessica Tarlov Fact-Checks the SAVE Act: Voter ID vs. Voter Registration

The SAVE Act: More Than Just Voter ID

• 🎯 The SAVE Act is being misrepresented by Republicans as a simple voter ID bill, but it is fundamentally a voter registration bill.
• 💡 While many Democrats support reasonable voter ID measures, the SAVE Act's requirements go far beyond that.

Unpacking the SAVE Act's Requirements

• 🔑 The bill mandates proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, for voter registration, a significant departure from accepting a driver's license.
• ⚠️ An estimated 21 million Americans lack easy access to either a passport or a birth certificate, potentially disenfranchising them.
• 📜 For individuals who have changed their names, particularly women, obtaining updated documentation can be a complex and arduous process.

Voter Fraud Claims and Reality

• 📊 Conservative organizations like the Heritage Foundation have found very few instances of illegal alien voting or non-citizen registrations.
• 🚫 Republicans are using the unsubstantiated claim of widespread voter fraud to push for legislation that suppresses votes.
• 📉 Universal mail-in voting, also targeted by this bill, could affect states that voted for Trump.

Impact on Voters and Democracy

• 🗳️ The SAVE Act could eliminate online voter registration and lead to the purging of voter rolls for those who haven't voted recently.
• 🚩 This legislation disproportionately affects military personnel, tribal voters, rural voters, and those who have changed their names, including transgender individuals.
• 💰 The cost associated with obtaining the required forms of ID makes this bill a modern-day poll tax, hindering participation in democracy.

Republican Reversal and Democratic Response

• 🔄 Some Republicans are now reportedly trying to stop the SAVE Act, realizing it may disproportionately harm Republican voters who are less likely to possess passports.
• ✊ It is crucial for those who care about democracy to educate the public about the true stakes of the SAVE Act and combat voter suppression efforts.