Friends and neighbors,
Recently, virtually every Republican in the Minnesota House and Senate signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune urging the U.S. Senate to take immediate action on the SAVE Act. I was proud to add my name.
The SAVE Act, or the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, is pretty simple. It would require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections, along with a photo ID at the polls. The U.S. House passed it on February 11.
Honestly, it’s hard to believe this isn't the law already. American citizens should be the ones deciding American elections. Period, full stop.
Yes, opponents argue that fraud is rare. Maybe that's even true more often than not. (Though I’d argue we have a right to be concerned given the rampant fraud crisis that has taken over our state.)
But that argument misses the larger point. Trust in our elections and in our institutions has been badly damaged over the years, and you don't rebuild trust by telling the public it’s not an issue and we shouldn’t worry about it. You rebuild trust through action. Straightforward, common-sense safeguards like this go a long way.
And this really is common sense. Proving who we are is a routine part of life. We need to show an ID to open a bank account, buy alcohol, or before we get on a plane. Voting is more consequential than any of those things; the protections should be at least as strict.
You’ve also probably heard claims that married women will not be able to vote under the SAVE Act, or people who don’t have their documents will not be able to vote.
Ignore this fearmongering. The bill addresses these situations. For married women, the bill specifically requires states to set up a process for name mismatches. For people who don’t have their documents, the bill includes alternative processes.
If you are eligible to vote, you will be able to. It’s as simple as that.
The final thing I'll say is this: people clearly and overwhelmingly want it. I hear about election integrity issues constantly across the district. The polls back up those anecdotal stories. Support is strong for the SAVE Act, and it cuts across party lines. This is a mainstream idea and the only ones who oppose it are hyper-partisan Democrats.
The U.S. Senate should pass the SAVE Act and send it to the president's desk.
Sincerely,