STATEMENT: When We All Vote Executive Director Calls the SAVE Act a Dangerous Attack on Voting Rights

Washington, DC: Today, Beth Lynk, Executive Director of When We All Vote, released the following statement following the House of Representatives vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act:

“Despite its name, the SAVE Act would not “save” anything — it is an outright attack on our democracy and undermines Americans’ fundamental right to vote. Democracy has to work for all of us, not some of us, and the SAVE Act is another attempt to silence voters and decrease participation in our elections. 

“90 million Americans did not cast a ballot in 2024, and it’s clear that we should be making voting easier, not harder. The SAVE Act would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to register to vote and would disproportionately impact young voters, Black and Brown voters, women, lower-income voters, rural voters and Americans impacted by climate disasters. The requirement to provide proof of citizenship documents in person to register to vote or update their voter registration would effectively end online, automatic and mail-in voter registration. 

“Registering voters online and in person is at the core of When We All Vote’s work increasing participation in every election and closing the race and age voting gaps. Registering to vote can be overwhelming, and we provide voters with the resources and tools they need to get registered and ready to make their voices heard. Last year, When We All Vote helped more than 300,000 Americans register or check their voter registration. The SAVE Act would eliminate this work, and make registering to vote a daunting task.

“While proponents of the bill try to distract us with false declarations that they are protecting our elections, we see through their hollow claims of voter fraud and attempts at voter suppression. We know the truth: Only eligible citizens vote in elections.

“If our voices weren’t so powerful, they wouldn’t be trying so hard to silence us. Our democracy is being stretched to its limits by blatant, targeted voter suppression. This year, there are more than 100,000 local elections across 45 states, and more than 280 bills making it harder to vote have already been introduced. But we still have power. Voting rights protect every other right, and the fight to protect and strengthen our democracy continues with legislation like the recently introduced John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to dismantle racist barriers to voting.

“Our work doesn’t end at the ballot box, it starts at the ballot box, and we encourage current and future voters to take action now by urging the Senate to vote ‘NO’ on this dangerous bill.”

Last year, When We All Vote reached more than 14 million voters and mobilized more than 300,000 Americans to register to vote or check their voter registration. As the SAVE Act moves to the U.S. Senate, voters can contact their members of Congress and take action with When We All Vote now at WeAll.Vote/fight.

Press interested in speaking with Beth Lynk about the SAVE Act and its potential impact should contact [email protected].