SAVE What?

The Issue

The SAVE Act, formally known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, is a proposed U.S. bill that would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a passport, birth certificate, or enhanced ID—to register to vote in federal elections. It passed the House on February 11, 2026, by a vote of 218–213 along party lines, with one Democrat joining all Republicans in support. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces significant hurdles due to the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster and opposition from some Republican senators concerned about federal overreach.

The bill mandates that states cannot register voters unless they present approved documents verifying citizenship. Standard driver’s licenses, tribal IDs, and military IDs alone would not suffice unless they explicitly indicate citizenship status, which most do not.

The 2026 version, also called the SAVE America Act, includes a photo ID requirement to vote in person and stricter rules for mail-in voting, such as submitting a copy of an eligible ID. It also requires states to purge non-citizens from voter rolls and share unredacted voter data with the Department of Homeland Security.

Critics argue the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters, many of whom may lack immediate access to required documents. Studies estimate 21.3 million citizens do not have easy access to proof of citizenship. Opponents also note that noncitizen voting is already illegal and extremely rare.

Getting the Documents

Vital records (birth, marriage, death) are usually stored by the county where the event took place. They may have a Vital Records department, or some records (such as recent births and deaths) may be stored by the Health Department.

If you need a copy of your birth certificate, you can probably go in person to the county offices. If you have moved away, you can probably do this online or by mail. (This cannot be done by making a phone call.) Your county may offer forms on its website, or it may direct you to a third-party (for-profit) provider. In any case, getting a copy of your certificate is not a free service. Fees vary, but in most cases will not be more than $30.00.

You need to know the difference between an "informational copy" and a "certified copy". The informational copy comes stamped with the words "Not for identification". The certified copy is provided only to authorized people, such as the person in question and certain close family members. As an authorized person, you will have to provide a notarized declaration swearing that you are who you are. Notary fees vary, depending on where you go, but probably will be around $20.00.

Depending on how busy your county is these days, it can take several weeks (maybe a couple of months) to receive the certificate. By the way, if you want more than one, you'll have to pay an additional fee for each copy. (They come on nice paper with a raised logo.)

Some people don't have a birth certificate because they were born at home or in a remote location, and the birth was not officially registered. It may be possible to get a "Delayed Birth Certificate," but the requirements can be insurmountable. My grandfather, born on the farm, never had a birth certificate, although he tried many times to get one. The bureaucrats were not cooperative.

If your current name doesn't match your birth name, you'll need to document that. If you changed your name upon marriage, you'll need a copy of your marriage certificate. The procedure and fees are usually the same as for a birth certificate.

If you've been married more than once, you may need copies of all marriage certificates as well as copies of divorce decrees. Divorce documents may be difficult or impossible to obtain, as many counties keep them for only a limited time. If you were widowed before you remarried, you might want a copy of your first spouse's death certificate. The procedure for that is similar to getting a birth certificate.

If your name was changed due to adoption, you'll need copies of the relevant documents. To get copies of your adoption records, usually you must file a petition in the superior court where the adoption took place. You will need to include proof of identity (a drfiver's license or passport) and you may need a copy of your original birth certificate (see above). The procedure for getting adoption records varies from state to state, as do the fees.

If you had your name legally changed for personal reasons, you'll need an official copy of that document. The procedure to get it is unclear, as this kind of document is not listed on most counties' websites.

Sometimes people are surprised find that the name they use differs from the birth certificate. I knew someone who thought he was Joseph, who got a copy of his birth certificate and learned that he was born Giuseppe. Sometimes it's just a spelling variation, like Janice vs. Janis or Susan vs. Suzanne. Still, the name in use is not an exact match to the birth certificate. I don't know what procedure there may be to reconcile discrepancies like these.

Some people seem to think that this is not a real problem. They happen to have certified copies of all their records, that they have carefully preserved and dragged with them whenever they moved. They imagine that everyone else does what they do, and are contemptuous of anyone whose life isn't exactly like theirs. However, the reality is that most of us simply don't have certified copies of every document that has passed through our lives. And even those who do may run into discrepancies or unexpected information gaps.

The proposed requirement to make voter registration contingent upon having a current qualifying paper with a name exactly matching one's birth certificate places a procedural and financial burden on some people that is not placed on others. Married women are most likely to be affected and disenfranchised.

The League of Women Voters has stated, "Millions of eligible voters could be blocked from casting a ballot under the SAVE America Act’s restrictive documentary proof of citizenship requirements. This includes voters who are already properly registered and previously provided proof of citizenship but could still be turned away at the polls if they do not bring a passport or other qualifying document with them on Election Day."

The ACLU has stated, "The SAVE Act echoes failed and unconstitutional laws like Kansas’s proof of citizenship requirement, which purged over 30,000 eligible voters and was struck down in federal court. This legislation would especially harm naturalized citizens, voters with low incomes, voters of color, Native American voters, rural voters, and first-time voters—many of whom lack easy access to a passport or birth certificate. It would also threaten the voting rights of as many as 69 million women who have taken their spouse’s name but whose birth certificate does not match. By demanding burdensome documentation and triggering erroneous voter roll purges, the SAVE Act also threatens the ability of even long-time registered voters to stay on the rolls and participate in elections."

Click HERE for an explainer from Rock the Vote.

 

Proof of Citizenship

What would I do if I had to prove my citizenship? I'd use my passport. What if, like more than half of U.S. citizens, I didn't have a passport?

Without a passport, an enhanced driver's license (or enhanced state ID card) will do. I don't have one of those, so I need to assemble the documents that will be required to get it.

I need to start by getting a copy of my birth certificate. I don't live in the county (or state) where I was born, so a trip to the courthouse is impractical. Fortunately, I can order one by mail.

If I was born abroad to U.S citizens, I could use a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. A copy can be obtained by mailing a notarized application form and $50.00. If I wasn't born a U.S citizen, but moved to the U.S. and became naturalized, my naturalization certificate would work. Most likely, I would have this in my possession. In fact, if I were a naturalized citizen I could probably use that certificate as proof of citizenship and just skip the enhanced driver's license. But I'm a citizen by birth, so I need to keep working on this.

My birth state has a website that offers a choice between an "informational copy" and a "certified copy." The informational copy will be stamped with the words "Informational, not valid to establish identity," so I need the certified copy. I can print an application form to fill out. I'll also need to fill out a sworn statement saying that I am who I am, and get it notarized.

The fee for the certificate is $29.00. I can get my application notarized at the UPS store three miles away for $10.00. That's $39.00 plus postage for the birth certificate.

I mail the notarized statement with a check for $29.00. According to the state website, average processing time is 12-14 weeks. Yikes!

My current name is not the same as the name on my birth certificate, so I'll need to document that. The DMV will accept a passport (which, for purposes of this story, I don't have) or a certified copy of a marriage or divorce decree or court-ordered name change. Let's assume I changed my name when I got married. Getting the marriage certificate is a lot like getting the birth certificate. This costs $17.00, plus another $10.00 for notarization. If I've been married more than once, I need copies of all marriage certificates. The processing time is still 12-14 weeks. Let's hope I figured this out and mailed this application at the same time as the birth certificate request.

If I had legally changed my name by court decree, a certified copy costs $40.00.

Next, I need a proof of identity, which could be a passport, military ID, driver's license, government employee ID card, or certificate of naturalization. I'll use my current driver's license (assuming they'll accept it with an outdated address).

I now need to two proofs of my current address. These could include a bank statement, utility bill, vehicle registration, professional license, home ownership document, or some other kind of official document (as listed on the DMV website), or postmarked mail. I can use a document in my spouse's name if I also show a marriage certificate. This seems like it should be easy,but I'm finding it strangely difficult. I've lived in this house only a short time, and so far the only mail I've received is junk mail for the previous occupant. My bank account is online, and I don't yet have a printable statement with this address. My driver's license is two addresses behind, because the DMV doesn't issue a new license when an address change is reported. Since I'm waitng 12-14 weeks to get those birth and marriage certificates, maybe by then I'll have something I can use.

So far, I have spent $66.00 plus postage. Add another $27.00 for each additional marriage, if applicable. Don't forget the fee my state charges for a new driver's license. Fees are different in different states, and not all states or counties make it easy to order documents online or by mail. Typically, the fee is the same if the documents are obtained at the courthouse or hall of records. Some states do not consider vital records (birth, marriage, death) to be public records, and may require more than just a notarized statement to prove someone is allowed to receive the necessary certificates.

Three months after I started, my birth and marriage certificates arrive. Now I'm ready to visit the DMV with my pile of documents. Since the election is in Novenmber, it would be great if I had started this in July or August - maybe earlier, depending on my state's voter registration deadline.

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Fees and procedures described above apply to the county and state where I was born. Some localities charge significantly higher fees or make it much more difficult to get copies of documents.

Note that, as of this writing, proof of citizenship does not always require an enhanced driver's license (aka Real ID), which is typically intended as identification for traveling by air. In many cases, a certified birth certificate is sufficient, provided the person's current name appearing on other forms of ID is exactly the same as on the birth certificate. Changes in spelling (Janice vs. Janis, Stephen vs. Steven) or use of an alternate form (Mike vs. Michael, Dave vs. David) may require additional documentation, which is not necessarily possible to obtain. Common sense is not admissable. People who change surnames upon marriage need to provide certified marriage and/or divorce certificates.

Some people do not have birth certificates. This may be the case for people who were not born in a hospital or clinic. (It can also be a problem for older people born in rural areas where record keeping was not meticulous, or in cases where public records have been lost or destroyed.) In the case of home births, counties or states allow registration of the birth, but sometimes people simply don't bother to register a home birth. For people who have reached adulthood without ever having a birth certificate, it may be possible to obtain a "delayed birth certificate". This requires sworn statements from witnesses, such as the mother or someone else who was present at the time. My grandfather was never able to get one, becase at the time he applied, his parents were dead, and the bureaucrats did not accept his sister as a witness.

A Social Security card is not considered proof of citizenship. According to the Social Security Administration, proof is one of these: Certificate of Naturalization, birth certificate (or equivalent), U.S. Passport or Passport Card.

For more information on proof of citizenship or acquistion of important documents, see these links:

   US Passports
   Real ID

 

The Latest Poll Shows Something Weird

Opinion polls are often designed to get the answers the pollster wants, by inserting bias into the questions. Similar questions can be asked in different ways. For example:

· Should Sally get a haircut?
OR
· Should Sally change her outdated hairstyle?

People responding to the poll may not even notice that it has been designed to reinforce the pollster's opinion. This pollster may have an agenda to make people think of Sally as old fashioned and unattractive.

· Should Sally wear more age-appropriate clothes?
OR
· Should Sally change her wardrobe?
OR
· Should Sally stop wearing dresses that look like potato sacks?

Even a person who likes Sally's look may find it hard to answer a simple yes or no to the biased questions. We see questions like this all the time in fake polls connected to politicians' fundraising efforts.

· Should schools avoid political bias in their lessons?
OR
· Should schools stop promoting the other party's extremist propaganda?

These polls never give you the chance to comment, "These are stupid questions."

 

Without Voter ID, This Happened

I used to live in a state that did not require ID to vote. Here's what happened.

The polling place was near my neighborhood. In some years, it was at a school or in a garage within walking distance. It was rare to wait more than 20 minutes, and often there was no wait. Upon arrival, I told the poll workers my name and address. They found me in the list of registered voters, and I signed my name next to my listing. Then I got my ballot and voted.

Would it have been possible for fraud to occur? Sure, if someone knew my name and address and got there before me (or if I didn't vote that time, which never happened) they could have pretended to be me. It would be very difficult to perform fraud like that on a large scale, because you would need a large number of of imposters successfully impersonating people who hadn't voted. It's a crazy idea.

 

Not a Serious Candidate

Pat Paulson (1927-1997) was an Emmy-winning comedian who satirically ran for President several times. His campaigns received light-hearted press coverage; the reporters knew he wasn't a serious candidate. Even so, he did get votes in some primary elections (both Democratic and Republican), beating some of the real but minor candidates. In 1996, he received 921 votes in the New Hampshire primary, coming in second to Bill Clinton (76,754 votes).

Everyone in the media knew that Paulsen's campaigns were performances, and he was not viewed as a serious candidate. Years later, when game show host donald trump announced his candidacy, I expected the media would give him the Pat Paulsen treatment. Instead, the networks promoted him as vigorously as they could, catapulting a New York real estate conman into national office. It was even more of a disaster than most people predicted, leading to the emergence of a strange, fascististic cult.

Election Integrity

Imagine you're back in the 8th grade and it's time to vote for class president. There are 35 students in the class. Bob gets 25 votes, and Jim gets 10. But the next morning, the teacher announces that Jim is the new president. When the students complain, the teacher explains that all the students in the 3rd row voted for Jim, and traditionally, votes from the 3rd row are worth triple the other votes. So the final count is now 25 for Bob and 30 for Jim.

That's the Electoral College.

Now it's the next year, the same two guys are running, and everyone in the 9th grade is prepared. They persuade most of the 3rd row students to vote for Bob. Bob gets 30 votes, and Jim gets 5. Even with the triple-vote system, it's 30 for Bob and 15 for Jim. But the next day, the teacher announces that Jim is the president. When the students complain, she explains that a new rule allows her to throw out votes she doesn't like. Her final count is 1 for Bob and 15 for Jim.

That's the new "election integrity" law Republican state legislatures are trying to impose.

Winning and Losing

There is no shame in losing an election. The way elections work is, someone wins, someone loses. Honorable people who lose an election typically concede or congratulate the winner, and they move on with their lives. There is shame in losing an election only if the person who lost is a bad sport who reacts childishly, refuses to concede, accuses the winner of cheating, throws tantrums, becomes obsessed, and just generally behaves like a crazy person. Losing an election doesn't make someone a Loser. Being a spiteful crybaby does.

Don't Let Them Stop You From Voting

Some political candidates fear that they cannot win an honest election. Rather than face the truth and accept defeat with grace, they proclaim that any result which doesn't go their way must be "rigged".

What they really mean is that they haven't been able to rig it in their own favor.

So, in desperation, they decide that their only chance is to prevent people from voting.

In some locations, bullies and thugs will be present at polling places, attempting to interfere with the right of citizens to vote. In particular, they will target people of color and people whose first language is not English. They may also target people they think might be poor, gay, Muslim, college students, or members of almost any ethnic minority.

They may do this simply by hanging around the polling place, possibly wearing fake badges to make themselves look official. They may call out insults to the people who are in line to vote. They may try to intimidate voters by taking pictures or videos of people coming and going from the polling place. They may try to conduct "exit polls" of people leaving the polling place.

Some may carry this further by challenging the eligibility of voters. They may try to claim that you are not properly registered, or that you are not who you say you are.

Some may try to use other kinds of scare tactics. For example, they may post flyers near polling places, claiming that people with outstanding parking tickets or unpaid child support can be arrested when they identify themselves to vote. This is not true!

Here's the good news: This kind of voter intimidation is uncommon. Most of us will not run into anything like this. Even though you may have heard a desperate candidate encouraging his supporters to do these things, in most places it will not happen.

What if something like this does occur in your town? Don't be intimidated. Voting is your right. The system cannot work unless everyone has a chance to participate.

Remember:

• If someone is trying to intimidate voters on election day, notify the poll workers. They know the rules and know how to deal with the problem.
• Before you go to the polling place, write down the phone number of your local election board. If you run into a serious problem, you can call them for help.
• You do not have to tell anyone how you plan to vote. If you are approaching a polling place and someone asks you how you are going to vote, ignore them and keep on walking.
• Some news organizations conduct exit polls so they can report the progress of the election. Some intimidators may conduct exit polls as well. You can participate in an exit poll if you want to, but you do not have to. You can simply say no thanks and keep on walking.
• If your eligibility to vote is in question, ask the poll worker for a provisional ballot.
• Do not get into an argument with anyone at or near the polling place. This will not solve the problem, and it could get you in trouble. Bullies and troublemakers should be ignored or reported to authorities.
• Don't let anyone scare you. If you feel a little bit scared, breathe slowly and deeply to calm yourself. Then vote.

 

Vote Today

Today is yet another special election in Los Angeles. On the ballot are six propositions relating to taxes and budgets, a runoff for city attorney, and community college district trustees. The polls will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm. If you don't know where your polling place is, you can find it at http://www.lavote.net/.