By Jordan Beaubois, News Editor
A voting booth in Lancaster, New Hampshire – Photo by Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
The House of Representatives succeeded in the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known collectively as the SAVE Act, on Thursday April 10.
Its origin was seeded and grown within the Republican party, more specifically under the endorsement of the 45-47 President Donald J. Trump. They argued that illegal migrants were voting in elections and this bill was to focus on preventing non-citizens from voting. Now that this act has passed the house, it will move to the United States Senate in which it will be voted on.
If the SAVE Act passes, it would write into law that voters would need to provide proof-of-citizenship documents. This is incredibly problematic as 21.3 million Americans do not have a proof-of-citizenship document such as a passport, a birth certificate, or a naturalization certificate. Only, 43 percent of Americans have their passport, which is an incredibly low percentage compared to other nation-states.
Married women who had their surnames changed due to marriage would face even more challenges. These women under this new law would need to bring additional documentation such as a name change paperwork or marriage certificate, to register to vote. On April 1, Representative Dr. Maxine Dexter of Oregon’s Third Congressional District, a Democrat, introduced an amendment to protect married women from this potentially catastrophic issue. Republicans blocked this amendment.
U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter M.D. (D-Oregon) speaking in February rally – Photo by Brian Brose
The act would require all persons to visit a government office to register or re-register, which could prove problematic to those in rural areas, active military or those studying or living abroad. Not only is that potentially problematic, but the SAVE Act also introduced that election officials can face up to five years in prison or be sued if they register a non-citizen or a citizen who did not show proof, even if by an honest mistake.
The biggest takeaways from this new act, should it become law, is that the right of voting will be in the hands of those who can afford a passport, persons who are now dismayed from voting absentee, and those who have all documentation prior to voting. The right to vote may be in the hands of an exclusive minority as proven by the 43 percent of Americans who have passports.
The Saint 