SAVE Act requirements threaten voter eligibility

The legislation known as the SAVE Act is drawing criticism and concern, especially regarding how it may affect voting eligibility for married women.

Jenny Guzman, Program Director at Common Cause Arizona, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss more about the SAVE Act.

Part of the act requires a voter to prove U.S. citizenship before registering to vote. Acceptable documents will include a birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization paperwork, and certain versions of the Real ID that indicate citizenship.

“It is federal legislation that would hurt all Americans,” said Guzman when describing what is the SAVE Act and what it entails.

The name on the birth certificate must match the person’s current name. For many married women who took their husbands’ last names, their names will not match.

A study also shows that more than half of Americans do not have a passport.

“If they are registering with an updated name but waiting on receiving a passport, waiting to save up to be able to afford the documents, or whatever the case may be, they will not be able to register to vote, and go through many burdens,” said Guzman regarding an individual looking to change their legal name on their identification documents.