Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) raised concerns about the potential impact of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act, on voters in Pennsylvania, saying it would create burdens that could prevent many eligible citizens from participating in federal elections this year.
In a video statement, Scanlon pointed to data indicating that roughly 75% of Pennsylvania residents do not have a Real ID–compliant driver’s license and that only about half of the state’s population holds a passport. She warned that if the SAVE Act passes, many residents could be unable to vote in November because they would not have the required documentation.
Scanlon also said the bill would not recognize some commonly used forms of identification. She noted that student IDs would not qualify and argued that certain voters—such as married women whose names differ from what appears on their birth certificates—could face added hurdles. She described the measure as placing unrealistic burdens on citizens that could result in mass disenfranchisement, arguing it aims to address a problem that has not been proven to exist.
The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Under the proposal, states would be unable to accept or process federal voter registration applications without such proof. Acceptable documentation would include Real ID–compliant identification that verifies U.S. citizenship. The bill would also require states to create an alternative process for applicants who lack standard documents, establish ongoing programs to identify noncitizens on voter rolls, and remove them from official lists of eligible voters.
In addition, the bill would allow private citizens to sue election officials who register applicants without the required documentation and would establish criminal penalties for officials who do not comply.
Scanlon argued that the measure would be especially disruptive in Pennsylvania given the number of residents who may not have qualifying identification. She also warned that lawmakers representing Pennsylvania who support the bill would be acting against the interests of their constituents.
