Today, California Common Cause condemned the U.S. House passage of the SAVE Act, anti-voter legislation that would make it significantly harder for millions of Americans — including Californians — to vote. California Common Cause urges the California State Legislature to use this legislative session to continue to cement voting rights protections into California’s state law, and supports California’s two U.S. Senator’s efforts to vote against the SAVE Act. 

Under the proposed legislation, every American would have to provide in-person proof of citizenship to register to vote and update their voter registration. The SAVE Act would also make it impossible for Americans to register to vote by mail, end nonpartisan voter registration drives, and end online voter registration for 42 states. Every change of address or political party would have to be done in person.

Statement of California Common Cause Deputy Director Russia Chavis Cardenas:

“California lawmakers should determine how elections run in our state – not Trump or Congress. The SAVE Act is a voter suppression bill that would unravel years of efforts in California to ensure our elections are equitable and accessible to all voters.

If this bill becomes law, millions of hardworking Californians will have their access to the ballot severely restricted. Proof of citizenship could potentially disenfranchise Californians who don’t have access to a birth certificate or passport, including married women whose new last names do not match their birth certificate. Rural voters, people with disabilities, and time-strapped Californians would also be disproportionately impacted, as the legislation requires all documents to be presented in person.

That is the point of this bill: reinvigorate Black Code and Jim Crow suppression to make it so difficult to vote that people will give up on voting altogether. We urge the California Legislature to take action in this legislative session to continue to enshrine our voting rights into state law. We support our two U.S. Senators in their efforts to derail the passage of the SAVE Act. 

California Common Cause will work to ensure that voters’ voices are heard loud and clear: The SAVE Act does not serve Californians.”