States make the call as to who votes; not Congress [View all]

By John J. Martin / For The Conversation

The Republican-led House of Representatives on April 10 passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act; or SAVE Act. The bill would make voting harder for tens of millions of Americans.

The SAVE Act would require anyone registering to vote in federal elections to first “provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship” in person, like a REAL ID or a passport.

The House already passed an identical bill in July 2024, also along partisan lines, with the GOP largely supporting the legislation. At that time, the Senate killed the bill. With a now GOP-controlled Senate, and a Republican in the White House, the SAVE Act could become law before 2025 ends.

Voting rights experts and advocacy organizations have detailed how the legislation could suppress voting. In part, they say it would particularly create barriers in low-income and minority communities. People in such communities often lack the forms of ID acceptable under the SAVE Act for a variety of reasons, including socioeconomic factors.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-states-make-the-call-as-to-who-votes-not-congress/