Musings: SAVE Act will kill turnouts
Voters fill out their ballots Nov. 4, 2025, in Detroit. Credit: AP/Paul Sancya
So now we are faced with the SAVE America Act, which requires voters to document proof of citizenship at registration and a photo ID when voting. The legislation seeks to remedy a purported problem, but it comes with consequences. Let’s consider both.
Is there any evidence that noncitizen voting has ever come anywhere near levels that would influence the outcome of an election? No.
What are the consequences? Plan to visit your county board of elections. Bring your government-issued birth certificate or passport. Don’t have one? Oops! Get one. And photo ID. Don’t have a driver’s license? Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles for a nondriver proof of ID. Bring the necessary paperwork: Did your surname change because of divorce or marriage?
So why has the Republican-led House passed the SAVE Act? Ask yourself who will find its consequences burdensome. The SAVE Act: Suppress Access to Voter Eligibility. It’s as simple as that.
— Christopher Paul, Bayport
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