The Senate is preparing to vote on S.128, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the “SAVE Act.” Supporters argue the bill is necessary to protect election integrity. In practice, however, it would make it significantly harder for millions of eligible Americans to register and cast a ballot, particularly women and marginalized communities.
At a time when women’s rights and bodily autonomy are already under attack, this legislation raises a broader question: who truly has a voice in American democracy?
Under current law, individuals registering to vote must verify their citizenship, and state and federal databases are used to confirm eligibility. The SAVE Act would add new hurdles by requiring anyone registering to vote, or updating their registration, to provide documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, in addition to a government-issued driver’s license, including a REAL ID.
For many Americans, obtaining these documents is neither simple nor inexpensive. More than 21 million Americans lack ready access to documents that prove their citizenship, and roughly half of Americans do not have a passport. At the same time, documented cases of voter fraud, the problem the bill claims to address, are virtually nonexistent. The legislation would impose sweeping barriers in response to an issue that has little evidence of being widespread.
The Act would also create challenges for women and transgender people who have legally changed their names. For those without passports, the legislation would require a birth certificate that matches the name on their current identification. Approximately 69 million American women have changed their last name after marriage and could face complications if their documents do not align.
These additional documentation requirements would disproportionately impact communities that already face obstacles to political participation. Women, people of color, young people, and low-income Americans are less likely to have passports or immediate access to original birth certificates. Access to these documents is closely tied to income, education, and race.
Data shows that only one in five Americans with a household income below $50,000 has a valid passport. About one-third of Black Americans and one in four Americans with a high school diploma or less hold valid passports. If the SAVE Act becomes law, there would be no simple solution for those unable to meet the new requirements. Replacing or obtaining citizenship documents often requires fees, transportation, and time off work—resources many families cannot easily spare. Poverty disproportionately affects Black, Latina, and Native American women, who experience significantly higher poverty rates than white men.
Women and marginalized communities are already navigating an uphill battle for equal rights. Restricting access to the ballot only deepens those inequalities. The SAVE Act risks turning the fundamental right to vote into a privilege—one that many Americans simply cannot afford.
