7-12-2024 3:06pm

Vasquez votes against the SAVE Act that would disenfranchise women, seniors, service members and Native Americans

Chris Edwards Editor

On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) voted against H.R. 8281, the SAVE Act, to protect voter access and prevent disenfranchising voters. This bill would pose significant challenges to voter registration and participation for millions of citizens.

Americans would not be able to register to vote with commonly accepted forms of identification, such as their driver's license or REAL IDs, as they do not meet the SAVE Act’s citizenship requirements. This also means that military IDs, Tribal IDs and even birth certificates in the case of name changes after marriage cannot be used for voter registration. This is an unnecessary barrier that disproportionately affects women, servicemembers and Native Americans.

“Voting is our most sacred right, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that it is protected and accessible to all citizens. This bill, under the guise of safeguarding our electoral process, would disenfranchise millions of Americans, including servicemembers, Native Americans, women and rural communities,” said Rep. Gabe Vasquez. “We have laws to protect election integrity and prevent non-citizens from voting in federal elections. The SAVE Act does not ensure election security, instead it creates significant barriers to voter registration and participation. By voting against this bill, I am standing up for the rights of New Mexicans and all Americans to have their voices heard without unnecessary and discriminatory hurdles.”

“As a disabled combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, I fought for the freedoms and rights that our democracy promises to every citizen. If Americans regard service members as our finest citizens, then why are Republicans making service members prove their citizenship? The Republican led Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, institutes voter ID requirements that create significant barriers for marginalized communities, including minorities, the elderly, and low-income individuals,” said Nick Paz, New Mexico Common Defense member. “This bill would also create more barriers for military members and veterans when they try to cast a ballot, effectively silencing the voices of those who have and who are currently putting everything on the line to defend our democracy. As a member of the largest grassroots veterans organization in the country, I and the members of Common Defense call on Congress to oppose the SAVE Act, and reject all such attempts to disenfranchise, exclude, and undermine the very foundation of our democracy.”

“I am a retired Navy captain (O-6) who served on active duty for 29 years and lived overseas for 12 years. I always voted using an absentee ballot because I was never stationed in my home state, like so many of my shipmates and other navy personnel who are deployed and serve to protect our nation. We are patriots who put the needs of our country before our own. And we take voting very seriously, understanding the responsibilities of citizenship,” said CAPT (ret.) Claudia Risner, Ph.D. U.S. Navy of Tijeras, New Mexico. “These proposed additional requirements would be cumbersome and could become obstacles to voting given the responsibilities of our service, especially when deployed. Additional requirements without additional benefit. I strongly oppose this legislation that could become an impediment to voting to the very people who dedicate years of their lives to defending our democracy.”

“As a proud Army veteran, I have always believed in the fundamental right to vote, a right that many of us have fought to protect. The SAVE Act would only create more barriers for veterans and military members when they try to cast a ballot, effectively silencing the voices of those who have put everything on the line to defend our democracy,” said Jose Vasquez, Executive Director of Common Defense. “As the largest grassroots veterans organization in the country, the members of Common Defense call on Congress to oppose the SAVE Act, and reject all such attempts to undermine our democratic freedoms.”

The bill requires either a birth certificate or passport to register or update voter registration records. Whether losing a birth certificate in a wildfire, changing a name after marriage or being born overseas to military parents, Americans seeking to register to vote could be required to obtain a passport. Currently, fewer than one in two Americans have a passport. As of this spring, the State Department has an average wait time of 10-13 weeks, and people often face long delays during a backlog of requests. With the next election less than 17 weeks away, millions of Americans would be at risk of not receiving a passport in time to register.

H.R. 8281 also ignores state’s autonomy and inserts the federal government into states’ voter registration processes. It effectively guts the use of mail and online voter registration by disallowing states from accepting the National Voter Registration Act’s mail voter registration application without in-person presentation of documentation, which is especially difficult for seniors and those living in rural areas.

Additionally, it imposes stringent requirements on individuals in states, including New Mexico, with same-day voter registration, who must present documentation when registering and voting simultaneously. This places an undue burden on voters as most do not typically carry passports or birth certificates to the polling place.

Vasquez remains committed to protecting voter access and ensuring that all eligible Americans can participate in the democratic process without unnecessary obstacles.