Oregon AG Joins Effort to Block Trump’s SAVE Act as New Voter Rules Risk Minority Rights and Decades of Progress

Despite studies that show that only 0.0001% of votes cast in areas with high immigration populations are by non-citizens, the Trump administration is changing the SAVE Act which will pose onerous burdens on voters to prove their eligibility.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has joined a coalition of 17 AGs who oppose H.R. 22 – the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE Act – arguing that the proposed legislation will add unnecessary and complicated hurdles for millions currently eligible to vote.

Legislation Will Mainly Affect Minority and Low-Income Communities

Writing to House Speaker Michael Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the coalition warns that the change in legislation requiring proof of citizenship before registering to vote will create unnecessary obstacles. The legislation will mainly affect minority and low-income communities.

The SAVE Act will amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote.

The coalition believes the requirement will reverse 30 years of progress made under the NVRA. The NVRA was designed to remove barriers to voter registration and promote greater participation in the democratic process.

The coalition says providing proof of citizenship in the form of a passport or birth certificate is an expensive exercise, further complicated by the fact that names appearing on the documents must be a perfect match.

The AGs point out that more than 21 million voting-age citizens do not have a passport, birth, or naturalization record. Furthermore, 80% of married women have chosen to adopt their partner’s last name, so will not have a valid birth certificate under the SAVE Act.

The coalition is also opposing in-person presentation of citizenship documentation, effectively eliminating online voter registration in use in 42 states. The AGs also believe that the legislation will jeopardize active-duty servicemen.

In a news release from the Oregon Department of Justice, AG Rayfield says that the integrity of elections can still be protected while ensuring that every legitimate voter has the equal right to cast a ballot ‘without obstacles or discrimination.’