To the editor:
Millions of Americans could be forced to jump through new hoops just to cast a ballot next year if the U.S. Senate passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The House of Representatives has already passed this act. Wisconsin voters must presently show a legal ID to vote, but this bill would additionally require proof of citizenship.
This is a dangerous step toward voter suppression. The new law could block millions of eligible voters from voting. Despite intensive scrutiny, non-citizen voting (fraud) has not been demonstrated to be a significant issue in our elections.
The bill would force voters in-person to provide proof of citizenship — like a passport or birth certificate — just to register or update their voter registration. It would especially burden military voters, survivors of natural disasters and married women who have changed their names. Eight in 10 married women have changed their surname, and don’t possess a birth certificate that matches their current legal name.
Rural voters, working class voters, voters of color, and disabled or older Americans are less likely to hold a passport or accessible birth certificate, Tribal citizens would be unable to register using their Tribal ID alone, unless this included their place of birth in the United States.
Every time a voter moves, they must re-register to vote. Also, under the SAVE Act, voter online registration and mail-in registration would be banned as well.
Our freedom to vote is one of the most sacred in a democracy, and we must take action to protect it. Call Sens. Ron Johnson (202-224-5423) and Tammy Baldwin (202-224-5653) today and tell them to vote no on the SAVE Act.
Jan Koch, Shawano
