Are you wondering what's in the various SAVE Acts and why the League opposes them? Here is a summary, including why requiring Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC) is about much more than just 'showing ID'.
The stated reason for these bills is to prevent non-citizens from voting - something that is virtually non-existent since it's already illegal, and there are already effective methods for enforcement.
The actual effect of these bills is to make it much more difficult for eligible voters to vote, especially the young, the poor, and women.
THE SAVE ACT Requires:
- Documentary Proof Of Citizenship in person to register to vote or to re-register or update voter registration
- Voter roll maintenance/purges of non citizen voters
Documentary Proof Of Citizenship (DPOC) consists of:
"A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States" NOTE: California Real ID does NOT prove citizenship
- Valid United States passport
- US military ID together with military record showing US citizenship
- Valid government photo ID together with one or more of the following:
- Certified birth certificate
- Naturalization certificate
- American Indian Card
- Additional documents are required if names don't match
The SAVE America Act Requires:
- All the above requirements plus photo ID to cast a ballot
- Requires states to submit a list of all eligible voters in the state to the DHS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system
The SAVE ACT and the SAVE America Act have passed in the House. The Senate is currently debating the SAVE America Act
The Make Elections Great Again (MEGA ACT) Requires:
- All the above plus requires mail-in ballots to be received by election day
- States are required to use auditable paper ballots.
- This act would ban:
- Universal vote by mail
- “Ballot harvesting”
- Ranked choice voting in federal elections
Impacts and Implementation Challenges
- Widespread voter disenfranchisement
- Undermines mail-in voter registration
- Requires in-person presentation of citizenship documentation
- Likely end of online voter registration
- Likely end of third-party voter registration
- Chilling effect on election officials/employees due to criminal penalties for incorrectly registering a voter
These acts would make it much more difficult for citizens to register or re-register to vote and is a form of voter suppression.
