Atlanta — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives pushed to pass H.R. 22, which they call the SAVE Act, a sweeping voter suppression bill backed by Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans. The bill will head to the U.S. Senate next. Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO of Fair Fight Action, released the following statement:

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“Let’s call this what it is: a desperate attempt by Trump and his MAGA allies to rig the rules, block millions from voting, and dodge accountability at the ballot box – it should be called the Save MAGA Politicians Act.

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“They know Trump’s policies are tanking the economy, driving up costs, and handing out tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy — and they’re trying to stop the American people before we can fight back at the ballot box. We urge every voter to contact their U.S. Senators immediately and demand a NO vote on the SAVE Act.”

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Background • Key Facts on the SAVE Act:

1. Proof of Citizenship Requirement: The SAVE Act mandates voters present expensive and difficult to obtain government-issued proof of citizenship documents (like a passport or certified birth certificate) to register to vote in federal elections — even though only U.S. citizens can already legally vote and must attest to their status under penalty of perjury.
2. 21 Million Americans at Risk: Over 21 million U.S. citizens — especially low-income Americans, seniors, rural voters, and people of color — do not have immediate access to the documents the SAVE Act would require.
3. Based on Right-Wing Lies: The SAVE Act is rooted in false right-wing claims about widespread noncitizen voting. But federal law already makes it illegal for noncitizens to register or vote in federal elections — and there’s no evidence this is a real problem. Only eligible Americans vote. Even the conservative Heritage Foundation, the architects of Trump’s Project 2025, found just 85 cases of noncitizen voting out of 2 billion ballots cast over the past 20 years.
4. Criminalize Election Officials: The SAVE Act opens the door to criminal penalties for election officials who register voters without documentary proof of citizenship, even if those voters are eligible. This could intimidate election officials, discourage lawful voter registration, and undermine trust in local election administration.
5. The SAVE Act Mirrors Trump’s Executive Order: The bill’s key provisions mirror Trump’s new elections executive order, including requirements for onerous documentary proof of citizenship documents and the potential to force mass voter purges.

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