Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted against the SAVE America Act, H.R. 7296, a bill that adds burdensome documentation requirements for every American seeking to register or re-register to vote, including those who have moved, changed parties, or changed their names.  Under this bill, when registering or re-registering to vote, Americans would have to provide documents proving their citizenship like a passport or birth certificate.  This would create significant barriers for the 50 percent of Americans that do not have a passport, as well as for the nearly 70 million married women that have changed their names and therefore can no longer use their birth certificate alone to prove their citizenship.

“We all agree that only American citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections, and that only American citizens should vote in those elections.  And that is why that is already the law,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “This bill is a solution in search of a problem.  Worse, it is a solution that creates problems.  It creates problems for women who have gotten married and whose birth certificate needed to prove citizenship no longer matches their legal name.  It creates problems and adds expense for Americans who do not have passports to prove citizenship.  And now, it includes new provisions requiring states to give voter rolls to the Trump administration after the President’s claim that he wants to take over elections. 

“I support efforts to ensure our elections are safe and secure and that all American voters can cast their votes safely, securely, and without obstruction, but this bill does not do that.  For these reasons, I voted no on this bill today.”

If enacted, H.R. 7296 would:

• Functionally eliminate online voter registration, voter registration drives, and mail-in voter registration—three popular methods of registration—because H.R. 7296 specifies that applicants who register by mail must present their documentation in person;
• Impose red tape on nearly 70 million women voting.  Most women who changed their name upon marriage have a different surname on their birth certificate than on their current photo ID.  If those married women do not have a passport to use instead of their birth certificate, they will be forced to produce a signed affidavit proving their identity if the name on their ID is different from their proof of citizenship document;
• Force states to hand over their voter rolls to the Trump administration as part of its effort to “take over” American elections; and
• Require voters to show a photo ID to vote.

Congresswoman Fletcher voted against a previous version of H.R. 7296 in April.

Congresswoman Fletcher is an original co-sponsor of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 14, which restores the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and restores federal oversight for states with a recent history of voter discrimination.