Durbin Slams Republicans' SAVE America Act

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a press conference at Chicago-Kent College of Law with the League of Women Voters of Illinois and the ACLU of Illinois to speak out against Congressional Republicans' SAVE America Act, which would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote. Earlier this week, President Trump said he would not sign any legislation until Congress passes this bill.

It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal elections. Election officials already take steps to verify voter eligibility, including citizenship. Republicans' SAVE America Act creates serious burdens for all Americans registering to vote by requiring all Americans to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote. Driver's licenses and other government-issued IDs alone would not be sufficient to register to vote, and most REAL IDs do not meet the bill's requirements of proving citizenship. According to a nonpartisan study by the Brennan Center and the University of Maryland, more than 21 million Americans who are eligible to vote-or about one out of every ten voting age citizens-do not have documents readily available to prove their citizenship.

"Do not let the bill's name fool you, the SAVE America Act would not protect our elections," said Durbin. "Instead, it would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote by upending decades of successfully administered and secure elections with untested, dangerous limitations on voter registration. I will vote no on this attack on our sacred right to vote."

"The SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem," said Edwin C. Yohnka, Director of Communications and Public Policy at the ACLU of Illinois. "There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in our country - outside the election denying dead-enders who surround the current President. But rather than recognize the lack of fraud, the Administration and the President are demanding that the federal government limit access to the ballot box for millions of Americans. This is simply not tolerable and must be resisted."

"The SAVE America Act is voter suppression. Americans do not need more obstacles to vote," said Becky Simon, President of the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

Durbin spoke on the Senate floor this week against the SAVE America Act.

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