Editor’s note: CHN sent the letter below on April 9, 2025 to the U.S. House of Representatives asking Members to vote “No” on H.R. 22, the SAVE Act. On the following day, H.R. 22 passed the House of Representatives and now is being considered in the U.S. Senate. CHN asks that constituents, advocates, and community members across the nation continues to keep the pressure on their Senators, asking them to reject this harmful legislation that would roll back the clock on voting and civil rights. 

April 9, 2025 

Dear Representative: 

On behalf of the Coalition on Human Needs, we urge you to oppose the misnamed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22), a deeply flawed and dangerous bill that would place unnecessary burdens on every American citizen seeking to exercise their fundamental right to vote. This legislation would upend voter registration systems across the country, making it virtually impossible for millions of eligible voters to register and update their registration. 

The Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of organizations including faith groups, human service providers, policy experts, labor, civil rights, and others concerned with meeting the needs of people with low incomes. The SAVE Act will further suppress votes in vulnerable communities, particularly minorities and low-income voters, who may struggle to produce the necessary documentation. Proof-of-citizenship requirements disproportionately affect people of color, people with low incomes, and naturalized citizens, who may be wrongly removed from voter rolls due to outdated or incorrect data. More than 9 percent of American citizens of voting age don’t have easy access to their proof of citizenship; that’s true of nearly 11 percent of people of color.  

This bill would make it significantly harder for these citizens to participate in our democracy, all under the guise of “election integrity.” But really, it is low-income and communities of color who often lack the time and money to retrieve or replace documents like a birth certificate. Instead, Congress should take actions that will help voters and promote democracy such as by strengthening protections against discrimination in voting and expanding access to the ballot for all communities to ensure that everyone can fully participate in our democracy. 

If enacted, the SAVE Act would force every American citizen to provide documentary proof of citizenship—such as a passport or birth certificate—just to register to vote or update their voter registration. In practice, this extreme mandate would dismantle online voter registration in 42 states, prohibit mail-in voter registration, and severely restrict voter registration drives nationwide. This legislation would effectively strip away convenient and accessible registration methods, leaving in-person registration as the only remaining option. As a result, millions of eligible voters—especially those in rural areas, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited access to government offices—would face unnecessary obstacles to participating in our democracy. 

The SAVE Act, much like the recent Executive Order issued by former President Trump, is a solution in search of a problem. Election officials from both parties have confirmed that voter fraud is exceedingly rare, yet this bill is designed to sow distrust in our elections and suppress voter participation. The bill would make it significantly harder for community organizations, nonprofits, and election officials to conduct voter registration drives, eliminate online registration, and create additional barriers for millions of eligible Americans. 

Key Reasons to Vote NO on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22): 

1. An Unnecessary and Onerous Burden on Voters: Forcing Americans to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register or update their registration disproportionately affects seniors, naturalized citizens, low-income individuals, rural voters, and women who have changed their names due to marriage.
2. Dismantling Online and Mail-in Voter Registration: The SAVE Act would effectively eliminate online voter registration and make it impossible to register by mail, further limiting access to the ballot box, especially for those in remote or underserved areas and for people with disabilities.
3. A Death Blow to Voter Registration Drives: This bill would criminalize or render ineffective the work of countless civic organizations and nonprofits that help eligible voters register, further suppressing participation in our democracy.
4. Increased Risk of Wrongful Voter Purges: The SAVE Act paves the way for sweeping voter roll purges based on outdated or incorrect data, putting millions of legally registered voters at risk of losing their right to vote.
5. Contradiction of Federal Law: The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) ensures fair access to voter registration, and this bill directly contradicts those protections, likely leading to costly legal battles and confusion among election officials and voters. 

The right to vote is a fundamental pillar of our democracy, and Congress must take action to protect it—not erect new barriers. The SAVE Act is a blatant attempt to make voting more difficult for millions of eligible Americans. The Coalition on Human Needs urges you to oppose this dangerous legislation and to stand with the millions of Americans who depend on fair and accessible elections. 

We urge you to oppose and Vote NO on the SAVE Act.  

Sincerely,  

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director