Voting Rights

The Constitution is clear: Article I states that administration of elections belongs to the states. And any changes to voting laws must pass through the Congress. 

Voter Fraud

Statistical analyses and state audits conducted by the Wisconsin Legislative Bureau, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, University of Chicago, Stanford University and several others have not found evidence of fraud capable of changing election results. These analyses are based on statistical analysis, legal records, audits, and not advocacy postures. In Pennsylvania, for example, researching 32 elections over three decades, a total of 39 cases of fraud were found of the 100 million votes cast. That works out to .000039% which is not capable of effecting an election outcome.  

Why 2 SAVE Acts? H.R. 22 was not approved by Congress during the session it was introduced. Bills don’t carry over between sessions of Congress. So, H.R. 7296 (Act) was introduced in February as another attempt to gain Congressional approval of similar policy. Both SAVE Acts were similar to the executive Order above but the Order is not enforceable since it conflicts with constitutional law. However, if approved by Congress, the Act would become federal law. 

HR7296 & HR7300 propose stricter documentation requirements for citizens to vote. It is not apparent what problem this solves as there is no evidence that suggests voter fraud has affected elections. If Congress approves the Act:

1. Proof of citizenship will be required to register to vote - presented in person: Citizens would need a passport, birth certificate, military ID with proof of birthplace or naturalization documents. Citizens who changed their name since birth would also need documented evidence of a name change. This provision eliminates mail-in and online registration. 

2. Photo ID (hardcopy only, not digital) will be required to vote: Ballots mailed in would have to include a copy of the photo ID. A California REALID does not confirm citizenship and a birth certificate does not have a photo, so citizens registered to vote in California would need a passport to vote.

3. Federal government would monitor and approve state elections. 

4. Criminal penalties would be imposed on election officials who knowingly or unknowingly allowed improper registration.

Track the status of HR 7296.   Track the status of HR7300. 

January 28, 2026: FBI Confiscates state election records

For the first time in United States history, federal agents cofiscated original, certified election materials from a local election office. A search warrant authorizing the seizure of the 2020 election ballots in Fulton County, Georgia was signed by Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.The warrant directed federal agents to seize physical ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls from the 2020 presidential election records as part of a federal investigation. The warrant does not specify evidence that a crime may have been committed. Our Constitution specifies that states have primary authority to administer federal elections. Now that the original ballots have been removed from secure storage in Fulton County, there is no way to ensure they remain in the same condition as when voters submitted them. 

February 2, 2026: "Nationalize" Elections*

* Verbal proposal by the president. No formal proposal has been introduced.

In a public appearance, the U.S. president said, "The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.” The specific meaning of this statement is undefined.

A major tenent of our Constitution is to decentralize the American voting system to prevent the concentration of power.  Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution states, “The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State”. 

 

 

Looking for unbiased media? Use this Media Bias Chart to choose.

 

 

League of Women Voters efforts to fight voter suppression.