Nearly 60 bipartisan election officials express their opposition to the SAVE Act

Nearly 60 bipartisan election officials from across the country are expressing their opposition to the SAVE Act (H.R. 22, S. 128) — federal legislation expected to be voted on in the House of Representatives this week that would require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

In a letter addressed to members of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and the House Administration Committee, election officials said the SAVE Act “places unfunded, operationally unrealistic, and legally precarious burdens on election offices across the country.”

According to the officials, many of whom are members of Issue One’s Faces of Democracy initiative, proposed changes mandated by the SAVE Act “represent a major administrative undertaking that would be shouldered entirely by local election offices — many of which operate under tight budgets and limited personnel.”

“States already have systems in place to verify voter identity, and many have backend processes to confirm citizenship status,” the letter states. “As election officials, our priority is to conduct secure, efficient, and well-organized elections. The SAVE Act places an unfunded, unworkable, and legally risky burden on election administrators without offering the necessary resources or implementation support. We urge you to oppose this bill and instead work with election officials to develop policies that strengthen election security without jeopardizing administrative efficiency or exposing election personnel to legal liability.”

The letter, joined by local and state election officials including Secretaries of State Jocelyn Benson of Michigan and Cisco Aguilar of Nevada, comes as the Republican-controlled Congress considers major changes to existing federal election law after last year’s electoral gains.

The SAVE Act would require most applicants to produce multiple forms of identification that millions of eligible voters do not possess, would expose election officials to legal liability, and mandates immediate implementation, leaving no time for election officials to develop the necessary systems and processes to comply.

“The SAVE Act is a recipe for chaos — impossible deadlines, unfunded mandates, and legal risks for election officials just trying to do their jobs,” said Issue One’s Vice President of Advocacy Alix Fraser. “Election officials across the country work tirelessly to ensure secure and accessible elections. If Congress is serious about improving election policy, they should focus on practical, well-resourced solutions, not bureaucratic roadblocks.”

The SAVE Act was first introduced and passed by the House last year prior to the November elections. The bill was reintroduced in the House earlier this year and is scheduled for a vote later this week.

Read the full letter.