Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued a statement following his vote against the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
“I voted against Republicans’ attempt to disenfranchise millions of Americans. Republicans claim that the SAVE Act makes it illegal for non-citizens to vote, but federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting. Instead, this bill imposes unnecessary barriers to voter registration by requiring birth certificates or passports instead of driver’s licenses, state IDs, or military IDs.
“This would create a logistical nightmare for millions of voting-eligible citizens—including roughly 69 million women who changed their name after marriage. Under this bill, none of these women would be able to use their birth certificate to prove their citizenship, forcing them to either amend their birth certificate or pay $130 to obtain a passport.
“The SAVE Act would also eliminate mail and online voter registration services, instead requiring Americans to present their documentation in person to an election official. This places an unfair burden on the millions of Americans who rely on these services to vote, including members of the military stationed overseas, residents of rural communities, and seniors.
“To maintain fair and secure elections, we need to protect voting rights—not create additional barriers for eligible U.S. citizens. I will continue to fight against these attacks on our democracy and work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure equal access to the ballot box.”
—Office of congressman Bill Foster