Voto Latino: The SAVE America Act is About Exclusion Not Integrity
Washington, D.C. — Following the House of Representatives passage of the SAVE America Act, Voto Latino issued the following statement:
“The SAVE America Act is the latest attempt by Republicans to intimidate and deter voters of color from participation. Fueled by a fear of a growing, diverse electorate, Trump and congressional Republicans are intent on fundamentally dismantling the way U.S. elections are conducted to serve their own political interests. Recent rhetoric, including suggestions of ICE presence at polling sites and the ‘nationalization of elections,’ reveal a coordinated effort to sow fear and confusion around our democratic process.
Let’s be clear: the SAVE America Act is not about election integrity; it is about who is allowed to be heard. By requiring that voters present proof of citizenship to register and eliminating mail-only registrations, this bill creates massive hurdles for young voters, voters of color, disabled Americans, naturalized citizens, married women whose legal names may not match their birth certificates, and millions of Americans who do not have easy access to proof of citizenship documents.
It is already a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. The bill does nothing to protect our democracy; instead it weaponizes debunked right-wing narratives about widespread voter fraud to undermine public confidence. Americans deserve policies rooted in facts, not fear. Instead of creating new obstacles, leaders should be addressing the real barriers that communities face and make it more accessible for every eligible U.S. citizen to cast their vote.”
Communities That Would Be Disenfranchised Under the SAVE America Act
- U.S. Citizens Without Passports
Approximately 146 million Americans do not have a valid passport. The cost to obtain a passport ranges from $65 to $195 per person, creating an additional financial barrier for many eligible voters.
- American Women and Individuals with Name Changes
An estimated 69 million women and 4 million men do not have birth certificates matching their current legal name due to marriage or other changes—creating barriers to providing required documents.
- Voters Without Access to Original Documentation
Roughly 21 million voting-age Americans lack ready access to documents like birth certificates or naturalization papers—especially those in lower-income or rural communities.
- Black and Latino Voters
More than one in four Black and Latino adult citizens do not have a driver’s license that reflects their current name or address (28% and 27% respectively).
- Voters with Disabilities
In 2020, more than 53% of voters with a disability voted by mail. Under the SAVE America Act, voters who choose to vote by mail would be required to provide a copy of an approved photo ID with their ballot.
Voto Latino calls on the Senate to reject the SAVE America Act in its entirety, and encourages voters to call their senators and urge them to stand up for voting rights and vote NO on the SAVE Act.
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered over two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.