The SAVE Act: An Explainer

https://www.rockthevote.org/explainers/the-save-act/

What is the SAVE Act?

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) was introduced into Congress in 2024 by Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) opens a new window. If passed, the bill would require all voters to provide a document such as a passport or a birth certificate to register or update their voter registration. Government-issued driver’s licenses—including REAL IDs opens a new window as they exist now—as well as military or tribal IDs alone would no longer satisfy voter registration requirements opens a new window. Proof of citizenship opens a new window would be required every time a voter registers to vote, including when they change their name, address or party affiliation.

The bill claims to ensure only citizens vote; however, the Act, if passed, will prevent millions of citizens from voting.

How would the SAVE Act impact voter access?

While most Americans have a birth certificate, 9% of voting-age citizens (21.3 million opens a new window) cannot readily access documents to prove their citizenship. At this moment, do you know where your birth certificate is?

Among citizens who do have a birth certificate, a significant number – 20% of the population – will have a difficult time using their birth certificates under the SAVE Act as their certificate will not match their current last name. Approximately 84% of married women change their last name as well as some men. Consequently, 69 million women and 4 million men opens a new window do not have a birth certificate that matches their name. Transgender people who have legally changed their names would also have issues or be unable to use a birth certificate.

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