U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they educate, support, and prepare to participate in our democracy, we urge you to vote NO on the SAVE America Act, S. 1383 (H.R. 7296) and the MEGA Act, H.R. 7300. Votes on these issues may be included in the NEA Report Card on the 119th Congress.
The SAVE America Act and the MEGA Act would disenfranchise millions of voters. They are cynical “solutions” to a problem that does not exist: rampant voting by noncitizens.
These bills would dramatically reshape how Americans register and vote, limiting our ability to make our voices heard at the polls. They are intended to further reduce turnout among particular groups of voters—including voters of color, younger voters, low-income voters, and voters with disabilities.
The SAVE America Act, MEGA Act, and other “show us your papers” legislation would require registration in person at state elections offices with documentary proof of citizenship, whether registering for the first time or simply changing an address or making another minor update. This would be burdensome for the many citizens who live far from elections offices or do not have access to birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers. People who have changed their name legally could face hurdles because the name on their identification would not match the name on their birth certificate. Married women would be particularly harmed.
The SAVE America Act would require states to conduct frequent voter purges based on databases that are not automatically updated. Millions of Americans would be unable to register to vote online or by mail, methods that have modernized voting procedures, are offered across the country, and are used by millions of Americans—particularly those with disabilities or limited mobility.
The SAVE America Act, MEGA Act, and similar bills threaten to reverse decades of progress in broadening eligible voters’ access to the polls. Building an infrastructure that enfranchised more Americans was a symbol of our democracy in the 20th century. Congress must now defend our democracy by ensuring that eligible voters are not denied their right to vote. Please vote NO on the SAVE America Act and the MEGA Act.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Johnson Trinca
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
