Take Action: Voice Your Opinion of the SAVE Act. 

What is the SAVE Act? Check out this video from the LWVNY's series "Defending Democracy"
Use this suggested letter from the LWVUS to contact your representative. Read what the NCLS (National Council of State Legislators) says about the basic provisions, including a provision that establishes crminal penalities for election officials who mistakenly register someone who is not elegilble.

The House and Senate introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require citizenship documentation to register to vote even though voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering.
         It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. The bill’s requirement of a document to prove American citizenship to register to vote in federal elections is unnecessary and seeks to divide us. It also creates another barrier to voting.
         Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote. The SAVE Act would create one more barrier to the voting process, as many eligible voters do not have easy access to the necessary documents. Compared to white US citizens, citizens of color are three times more likely to lack documents such as birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, or certificates of citizenship or face difficulties accessing them. For example, while approximately half of all American adults possess a passport, two-thirds of Black Americans do not.

The SAVE Act and President Donald Trump’s Executive Order of March 25

“Let’s keep it real: this order is not about protecting elections; it is about making it harder for voters — particularly women voters — to participate in them,” said Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “This executive order is an assault on our republic and a dangerous attempt to silence American voters. The President continues to overstep his authority and brazenly disregard settled law in this country. To be very clear — the League of Women Voters is prepared to fight back and defend our democracy.”

That was Celina Stewart’s reaction to President Trump’s Executive order on voting. The March 25, 2025  Executive Order mimics the current bill  in Congress, HR22, called the SAVE Act (for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act).

Here is the actual text of HR 22

This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship.
Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.
Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources.
Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters.
The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

Note that the bill would establish "criminal penalties" for registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present  documentary proof of U.S. citizenship." This means the men and women who carry out the work of  Otsego County's Board of Elections could be jailed if they make an error when registering someone to vote!

Although our local Representatives, Senators Schumer and Gillbrand and Congressman Josh Riley, may very likey be opposed to the SAVE Act, it is not guarenteed.

Urge your members of Congress to stand STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY!

Contact Senator Schumer  Phone:  (202) 224-6542

Contact Sentaor Gillibrand  Phone: (202) 224-4451

Contact Congressman Josh Riley    Phone: 202-225-5441