The League of Women Voters of the United States issued a statement in response to President Donald Trump's signed executive order, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” that threatens Americans’ freedom to vote and tramples states’ constitutional authority to run their own elections.  

If either the executive order is upheld or if Congress passes the SAVE Act, it would drastically upend the election systems in Connecticut and around the country by imposing significant voting barriers for tens of millions of Americans, especially women and people of color. As it is likely unconstitutional and beyond the scope of the President’s authority, many expect legal challenges to unfold within the federal court system.

While awaiting the anticipated court battles, Connecticut voters can take action to reject anti-voter policies and protect voting rights by 1) mobilizing friends in other states to push back against the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) Act, and 2) taking action at the state level to ensure adequate funding to protect and expand voting access.

What happens if Congress passes the SAVE Act?

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) Act H.R. 22 / S. 128, introduced by Republican Rep. Chip Roy on January 3, is an attempt to require voters to present proof of citizenship (typically a birth certificate or passport) every time they register or update their registration. Affirmation or verification of citizenship is already required for those registering to vote. As there are already severe penalties for noncitizens who illegally try to vote and cases of actual non-citizens voting are vanishingly rare, the SAVE Act would create barriers for millions of Americans instead of solving problems.

The SAVE Act would:

• End all nonpartisan nonprofit-led voter registration drives since only government officials would be able to review and accept the proof of citizenship.
• Make no allowance for proof of citizenship to be provided digitally or via paper copies, effectively ending Online Voter Registration and mail-in registration.
• Force Americans everywhere to travel and brave the lines every time they need to update their registration.
• Prevent tens of millions of American citizens from voting, since as many as 21 million Americans don’t have ready access to proof of citizenship and up to 69 million women have birth certificates that do not match their current name. Other voters lack transportation.
• Disproportionately impact marginalized populations - as citizens of color are three times more likely to lack documents or face difficulties accessing them.

In a statement during this capitol news briefing on February 24, 2025, Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas put it this way:

"Through fear mongering, Republican leaders want to pass this Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, more commonly known as the SAVE act. It is federal overreach, in an unfunded mandate, at best and it is antidemocratic at worst. The SAVE Act should actually be called the DESTROY Act because it would significantly limit voting access here in Connecticut and in every other state, by creating significant obstacles for every eligible voter.

"Imagine for a moment here in Connecticut no online voter registration; guess what - that’s how 39% of our residents currently register to vote. Imagine no voter registration through the mail. Imagine every single person having to make their way to the registrar of voter’s office to present their birth certificate or their passport to prove they are a US Citizen before being registered and eligible to vote. And imagine having to do this not just the first time you register but anytime you update your registration."

Connecticut's Fight at Home: Funding Our Elections

Given the ongoing assaults on the rights of Americans by the Trump Administration and his allies in Congress, it has never been more crucial for Governor Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly to do everything in their power to allocate adequate funding to protect the right to vote, ensure voting access, and implement the Connecticut Voting Rights Act in our state. 

Connecticut voters have embraced measures like early voting and absentee voting for all, but without adequate investment, these reforms cannot be fully realized. Election officials need resources to educate voters, ensure secure ballot access, and modernize our election systems. The failure to include these critical investments threatens to create unnecessary barriers for voters, especially seniors, people with disabilities, and working families.

1. Send family and friends in other states this LWVUS Action Alert to tell their members of Congress to oppose the SAVE Act, especially in states represented by the sponsors of the bill, including Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, Texas, and Arizona.
2. Sign up for LWVCT Advocacy and Legislative Updates to receive information about actions you can take to protect the right to vote or expand voter access in Connecticut.
3. Get ready to push for our state legislators to allocate adequate funding to protect and expand voting access, especially by funding municipalities and the implementation of the Connecticut Voting Rights Act.