Your future as a voter is being jeopardized, but you still have a voice. Voter eligibility is being seriously threatened by a bill Republicans have been trying to pass since the early 2000s, it is currently being named the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. Feb. 11, 2026 was the date the “SAVE” Act was passed in The United States House of Representatives as H.R.22. The SAVE Act prohibits states accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship. The official text explains the various identification requirements that can be used to prove one’s citizenship to the United States. There is one glaring problem; these documents are often gated from people by an inescapable fee. Which, per U.S. constitutional amendment XXIV, puts an unconstitutional price to our polls.
Representative Chip Roy of Texas says in a recent press release, “[The SAVE Act] is a critical step toward restoring election integrity by ensuring only U.S. citizens are voting in federal elections and are showing ID” but this is simply not true. He claims passing this act into law is “common sense” but others say it is undermining American voter rights and it is plainly unconstitutional. The Congressional Black Caucus points out, “The SAVE Act is not an election security bill — it is a voter suppression bill,”. There are many adults, no matter how organized or responsible they have been, who do not have a copy of their birth certificate, do not have a current state ID, or a passport. Over 51 percent of Americans do not possess a valid passport. A passport can cost around $165. A birth certificate costs between $10-30. On a base line these price tags are such an inconvenience but on a deeper note, they could be the difference between making or not making rent for many.
This could also affect married people who have changed their last names. Having a birth certificate that doesn’t match your current passport or REAL ID is likely to create major delays and impediment in all things voting.
Though many will not be affected so bluntly, registering to vote will become a significantly more involved and daunting task. Vote.org says “Voters would generally need to present document proof of citizenship in person before completing registration, effectively eliminating most current online and mail registration methods.”. As we may transition from registration that takes minutes on your smartphone to registration that could look similarly to waiting hours at the DMV. In a press release from Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, Cantwell says “These changes will make it difficult for senior citizens, rural community voters, working parents and so many others to actually vote,” she reiterates, “We need to stop the chaos.” When speaking to the effects the SAVE Act will have. The SAVE Act is not currently available for the public to vote on.
Hope still remains in the hands of young voters. And currently, registering to vote has never been easier. If you are 16 in the state of Oregon, Washington, or California, along with 15 other states, you could preregister today. Vote.org has resources for making a plan to vote once you turn 18. After you’re 16, the Motor Voter Act creates an automatic voter registration when you receive, renew, or replace drivers license, ID card, or permit. This creates the shift from an opt-in process to an opt-out process for Oregon voters. The process of preregistering online takes less than five minutes and is efficient and intuitive. Mail-in registration is also accessible with a print out form you can find through Vote.org. In the future, current high school students may find themselves voting on bills similar to the SAVE Act if not more crucial. When it comes to voting, it is evident that young people have an opportunity to exercise their voice as a member of their community.
