This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current federal administration that (I sincerely believe) lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community.
If any of the text in this blog is helpful in your own efforts to reach your representatives or senators, please feel free to copy and paste.
I wrote the following letter regarding concerns over HR22 (the SAVE act) which requires voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship in order to vote. The letter was sent to my U.S. Senators and Representative on May 6, 2025.
More about the SAVE act is here:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22
More about the real-life impacts of the SAVE act, if passed:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/31/congress-republicans-save-act-voting-rights
How to reach your U.S. Senators:
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
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Dear Senator <Name>,
I am writing to strongly oppose the passage of HR22 as it is currently written. While the premise of the SAVE act (requiring individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections) seems sound and reasonable, the bill as written will lead to restrictions in voting to certain populations of U.S. citizens, thereby leading to discrimination agains those populations. This contradicts American values and ideals.
Restricting the right to vote among U.S. citizens, whether explicitly or implicitly, also runs contrary to the 14th, 155h, 17th, 19th, and 26th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The American people rely on our states and U.S. Congress to ensure that our right to vote, as U.S. citizens, is protected and available to all citizens regardless of their circumstance, geographical location, education level, or otherwise.
For example, women often change their name when they marry. With the passage of HR22, they will be required to track down copies of their birth certificate and their marriage certificate in order to vote. This adds additional complications to already busy and burdened lives for women. I believe if Congress is insistent on passing HR22, it must also provide accessible means to access these legal documents at little to no expense and additional burden to the requestor . Yet, these considerations are not included in HR22 and HR22 is therefore incomplete. As it stands, HR22 is unfair and unjust to U.S. citizens who should be able to vote in a way that does not cause a disproportionate burden or expense to them.
While HR22 does not impact those who carry a U.S. passport which I believe is still gold standard proof of U.S. citizenship, more than half of Americans do not have a passport. How does HR22 enable U.S. citizens more practical access to a U.S. passport or other proof of citizenship? What resources are allocated to the states by this bill to serve the resulting increase in requests for passports or other documentation? How does HR22 allow for educating voters well in advance of elections to ensure that those who want to vote and who are eligible to vote... can indeed vote?
I strongly advocate for considering these important details prior to voting on the SAVE act. Like so much else that has happened in the last few months, decisions are being made and legislation passed in haste without thoughtful consideration of the multitude of impacts on the American people. This is threatening our democracy, adherence to our U.S. Constitution, and ultimately, the health of our country as a whole.
Please take a step back and reconsider HR22 rather than passing it without sufficient safeguards to ensure that those who are entitled to vote in the United States can vote without undue or differential burden on them to do so.
Sincerely,
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