New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside a coalition of 17 other attorneys general, has called on Congress to dismiss the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. This proposed legislation seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by mandating documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote. The coalition, which includes Attorney General James, argues that these requirements could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the United States.
Attorney General James highlighted the potential negative impacts of the legislation, stating, "The right to vote is the very foundation of our democracy, but with this bill, Congress is threatening that right for millions of eligible voters." She further criticized the Act, noting that it "would disproportionately impact communities of color, low-income individuals, and other vulnerable populations to create a dangerous precedent."
The coalition's letter, directed to Speaker Michael Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, warns of various difficulties the SAVE Act could create for eligible voters. These include requiring expensive documentation, mandating in-person document presentation, and creating challenges for active-duty service members.
The attorneys general also expressed concerns about the administrative and financial burdens the Act would impose on state election systems. According to their letter, the legislation necessitates an overhaul of voter registration procedures and imposes legal penalties on election officials for errors.
In their argument, Attorney General James and her colleagues emphasized the rarity of non-citizen voting, citing studies showing only 0.0001% of votes cast involved non-citizens in high-immigrant jurisdictions. The coalition urges Congress to oppose the SAVE Act and uphold the right to vote for eligible Americans.
Attorney General James has a history of defending voting rights. Recent efforts include successfully defending New York's Voting Rights Act and Early Mail Voter Act, as well as securing settlements and issuing voting rights alerts.
The attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia joined Attorney General James in this initiative.