Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted against Congressional Republicans’ so-called “SAVE America Act,” harmful legislation that would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. In particular, 69 million women who have legally changed their names would be forced to confront serious red tape and logistical hurdles in order to make their voice heard at the ballot box. In North Carolina, more than 2 million women do not have birth certificates that match their legal name. Furthermore, under this legislation, states would be required to turn over voter rolls to the federal government, including providing sensitive information to the Department of Homeland Security.
“In North Carolina and across the country, we are seeing unprecedented attacks on the sacred right to vote,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Donald Trump’s policies are so unpopular and causing so much pain that Republicans can clearly see the writing on the wall. They know they can’t win fairly in November, so they are trying to make it as hard as possible to vote. This bill is not about election security at all. It’s about voter suppression, and it will hurt women, rural, and working voters most.”
This backwards legislation would require a proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and requires registering in-person. A valid form of ID includes:
- REAL ID if it indicates the applicant is a citizen. Only 5 states offer REAL IDs that indicate citizenship.
- U.S. Passport. Half of American citizens do not have a passport.
- Official U.S. military ID card with U.S. military record of service showing the applicant was born in the US.
- Valid government-issued photo ID showing the applicant was born in the U.S. It hasn’t been specified what ID would possibly qualify if not a passport or REAL ID.
- Valid government-issued photo ID that does not provide proof of citizenship in conjunction with other documentation proving citizenship. The names must match. If they do not match, a voter would have to submit additional paperwork to register to vote.
Congresswoman Ross voted against a previous version of the SAVE Act in April 2025.
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