Letter: The SAVE Act discourages voting

Only U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age may vote in federal elections. Non-citizens who attempt to vote can be prosecuted. States vary with respect to the types of documents needed to prove voting eligibility. The SAVE Act, up for a vote in the U.S. Senate, would limit the list of documents valid for voter registration, documents which can be difficult, expensive and even impossible for some citizens to procure.

The only acceptable documents would be documents compliant with the Real ID Act, a valid passport, a military identification card together with record of service and a photo identification card issued by federal, state or tribal government showing the U.S. as place of birth. Other kinds of government photo identification cards would also be accepted if they were accompanied by additional documentation.

Citizens who don’t have these documents or don’t have the time or money to get them are likely to feel discouraged from registering. The bill not only makes voting more difficult but it also enlarges the myth that people coming from other countries are attempting to steal our elections. As NPR reported last November, non-citizen voting is extremely rare, usually the result of procedural errors and never bearing much influence on election results. I urge readers to contact Senators Shaheen and Hassan and ask them to vote against the SAVE Act.

Wiltrud Mott-Smith

Loudon