On the Home Front

by Hannah Botts and Tia Turner

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act claims to protect the integrity of U.S. elections. However, it proposes harmful restrictions that would disenfranchise many of the very communities already pushed to the margins of our democracy, particularly low-income renters, tribal communities, and young people in rural areas.   

Rather than addressing a real or widespread issue, the SAVE Act eliminates online and mail-in voter registration, requires in-person proof of citizenship, and severely limits third-party voter registration drives. These measures erect new barriers for people facing significant challenges registering and voting, especially those with unstable housing, geographic isolation, or limited access to government-issued documents.  

For low-income renters, the SAVE Act presents multiple barriers. Renters are more likely to move frequently, often across county or state lines, requiring repeated voter registration updates. Under the SAVE Act, each move would necessitate re-registering and doing so in person. This requirement burdens anyone juggling multiple jobs, caregiving responsibilities, or lacking reliable transportation.  

Moreover, many renters don’t have ready access to the required documents. Birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers can be costly and time-consuming to obtain. This requirement is especially burdensome for those who have experienced homelessness, domestic violence, or displacement due to disasters. For families living paycheck to paycheck, these requirements are not merely inconvenient; they’re disenfranchising.  

The impact is equally severe for tribal communities and rural voters, where access to government services is often limited by design. In some rural counties, there is only one voter registration office, and reaching it may require hours of travel. In Mohave County, Arizona, for example, a resident of Colorado City would need to drive over 500 miles round-trip to register to vote under this bill.  

Tribal communities also face unique challenges. Native voters frequently experience nontraditional addresses that don’t match DMV or voter databases, lack easy access to documentation offices, and often rely on trusted third-party groups to assist with registration. Outreach efforts of this kind would be restricted under the SAVE Act.  

Young people, especially in rural areas and tribal communities, are already disproportionately excluded from civic life. Nearly 60% of rural youth live in “civic deserts” with few opportunities to participate in democratic processes. These communities often lack voter registration infrastructure altogether. The SAVE Act systematically excludes them by eliminating accessible options like online registration and barring third-party voter drives.  

For many of these young people, obtaining documentation such as a passport or birth certificate is out of reach. Without these materials and a local registration office, participating in democracy becomes practically impossible.  

Despite the claims of the bill’s proponents, noncitizen voting is virtually nonexistent. A comprehensive audit of Georgia’s voter rolls found only 20 noncitizens registered out of over 8 million voters. A Brennan Center study found just 30 suspected cases of noncitizen voting in a national sample of 23.5 million votes, a rate of 0.0001%. The problem the SAVE Act claims to fix does not exist in any statistically meaningful way.  

Instead, the bill functions as a tool to suppress participation, especially among voters who are low-income, transient, young, or disconnected from political infrastructure.  

Voting is not just a right; it’s a responsibility. A responsibility that our systems should support, not hinder. Third-party voter registration drives, online tools, and mail-in options have historically been crucial in engaging voters who are otherwise left behind. Removing them strips away the few paths to civic participation available to many marginalized communities.  

As we look ahead to upcoming elections, we must reject legislation like the SAVE Act that would narrow the electorate in the name of “security.” Instead, we should focus on building inclusive, accessible systems that honor the diversity of experiences and challenges faced by voters across the country.  

Every American, regardless of income, housing status, geography, or documentation access, deserves a voice in our democracy. Protecting that voice starts by protecting the freedom to register and cast a ballot. 

Hannah Botts is a civic leader and former NLIHC Our Homes, Our Votes intern. Tia Turner is the project manager for NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes campaign.