Protect voting rights—oppose the SAVE Act
UPDATE April 11, 2025: The House voted 220 to 208 to pass the SAVE voter suppression bill on April 10th. It's time to call the Senate, demand that Dems filibuster SAVE (S. 128) and that Republicans do the right thing and also vote no to inequity.
Call your Senators and demand they vote NO to the SAVE Act.
Capitol Switchboard: +1(202)224-3121. Scripts below.
The Act is a voter disenfranchisement bill, pure and simple. If passed, it will impact millions of Americans and effectively end voting from abroad due to the new voter registration requirements it will impose. It goes hand in hand with the March 25th Executive Order that Trump recently issued and is a bill that would destroy democracy as we know it.
The SAVE Act amends the National Voter Registration Act to require voters registering or changing their registration information to provide ID that hundreds of millions of Americans do not have, and forcing that ID to be presented in person. These requirements severely restrict access to voting, especially for those abroad, in the military, in rural communities, married women, students, disabled and seniors.
Furthermore, it imposes criminal penalties on election workers if they register voters who fail to provide documentary proof of their U.S. citizenship, and will cost many millions of dollars to implement across state electoral systems.
The SAVE Act claims to be about preventing non-citizen voting, but it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in American elections and there is no widespread evidence of noncitizens voting in U.S. elections. Instead it creates barriers that will disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, overwhelm election officials, and sow distrust in the electoral process.
Actions to take
1) Call your Senators.
>> Find your senators
Or call the Capitol Switchboard: +1(202)224-3121
Script for calling Republican Senators:
My name is (NAME) and I am a constituent of Senator (NAME). My zip code is XXXXX. I care deeply about my country and my right to vote. I am calling to ask Sen <name> to oppose the SAVE Act and vote no to ending the filibuster on it. This bill would disenfranchise me because I am not able to register to vote in person and would massively undermine democracy in the United States. Will <name> protect my right to vote?
Script for calling Democratic Senators:
My name is (NAME) and I am a constituent of Senator (NAME). My zip code is XXXXX. I wanted to call and thank the Senator for standing up and opposing the SAVE Act. This bill would disenfranchise me because I am not able to register to vote in person and would massively undermine democracy in the United States. Thank them for protecting my right to vote!
2) Ask friends and family to call too. Here's a short message to send around.
Contact a Friend Message:
Hi (friend), the SAVE Act is now in the Senate! It's the voter disenfranchisement bill intended to severely curtail voting. Can you take a moment to call your senators about it? Let me know if you need help tracking their names down. You can use the capitol switchboard to reach their offices at +1(202)224-3121, and you can find a script here: https://www.democratsabroad.org/stop_the_save_act
3) Submit a testimonial (in video or written form) which can be shared on DA social media and with key Congresspeople. (Instructions & where to upload here)
SAVE ACT FAQ (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R.22/S.128))
1) What are the documentation requirements the SAVE act would impose?
As referred to in the bill, “documentary proof of United States citizenship” means a passport, a (enhanced) REAL ID, or a combination of other valid, government issued ID’s.
2) What does the Act say RE: Abroad/UOCAVA voters?
The act does not speak to abroad voters specifically. It refers to the act of registering to vote. It also calls on States to periodically review / purge their voter rolls. If an abroad voter was accidentally purged, they would still need to appear in person with the required documentation to re-register.
3) I’m already registered to vote - what does this mean for me?
If your State purges its voter registration files, you would need to register again, and present your proof of citizenship in person. If you need to change your name, or your registration address, you would need to register again, and present your proof of citizenship in person.
4) Who will be disenfranchised by the bill?
The massive group of Americans this would disenfranchise includes:
- Military and civilians abroad
- Voters without a passport or who have lost their birth certificate
-
All mail-in registration voters, which often includes
- College students
- Seniors
- Military in the United States
- Rural voters
- Workers who are not eligible to take time off from work to register
- People who have changed their name and have no passport
5) What is the impact on local elections offices/election officials?
Every election office across the U.S. will be impacted by this bill because it mandates that they:
- Require all mail-in voters to present their proof of citizenship documentation in person,
- Accept the burden of being subject to criminal penalties
Not only will this significantly increase the strain on an already strained system, but it will negate the millions of dollars of current infrastructure that is already in place across all 50 states and DC for voter registration and will cost millions of dollars to implement.
6) Which House Democrats voted for the bill on April 10 of this year?
- Ed Case HI1
- Henry Cuellar TX28
- Jared Golden ME2
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez WA3
7) Is DA coordinating with other groups of impacted people?
As a State party, we cannot coordinate with 501c3 organizations, though we can work towards the same objectives.
8) How does the SAVE Act Undermine Voting Rights?
Restricts Voter Access
- Requires passports, birth certificates, or enhanced drivers licenses—documents many Americans lack & which are time consuming and costly to acquire
- Threatens mail/online registration, used by millions; disadvantaging abroad voters, those with limited transportation, opportunity, etc, and requiring states to overhaul online registration methods
Criminalizes Election Workers
- Mistakes in voter registration could lead to harsh penalties, discouraging civic engagement.
Criminalizes & Overburdens Election Officials
- Eliminating streamlined registration will cause long lines and higher costs.
- Increased workloads could strain resources and discourage participation.
Encourages Voter Purges & Disenfranchises Marginalized Communities
- Low-income individuals, women, people of color, and rural residents would be disproportionately affected.