Attorney General Kwame Raoul has expressed opposition to H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, citing concerns that it could hinder voter participation. Raoul, together with a coalition of 18 attorneys general, sent a letter to congressional leaders outlining their concerns.
The SAVE Act seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by mandating documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. Raoul and his counterparts believe this requirement would undo years of progress made in easing voter registration through the NVRA.
"I am urging congressional leadership to oppose the SAVE Act and maintain accessible voting rights for all eligible Americans. We should focus efforts on encouraging more Americans to participate in the democratic process. This measure does the opposite, instead of disenfranchising legitimate voters," Raoul stated. "I am proud to join other attorneys general to protect voters’ rights and ensure that eligible voters are not met with obstacles when they attempt to exercise their constitutional right to vote."
The coalition's letter argues that incidents of non-citizen voting are exceedingly rare, with studies indicating a rate of only 0.0001% in areas with high immigrant populations. Despite this, the SAVE Act would impose significant barriers for eligible voters, especially impacting poorer and minority demographics.
Some barriers highlighted include the requirement for costly documentation such as passports or birth certificates, the mandate to present these in person rather than through existing online systems, and challenges for married women whose legal names differ from their birth certificates. Furthermore, active-duty military personnel might face disenfranchisement if they cannot appear at their local election offices.
Over 21 million adult citizens reportedly lack immediate access to a passport or birth certificate, and the legislation would affect up to 80% of married women. The coalition also pointed out potential financial and administrative burdens on states, as compliance would require major changes to voter registration systems and introduce penalties for errors made by election officials.
Joining Raoul in opposing the legislation are attorneys general from states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and several others.