In my family, voting is not only right—it is a lifeline.
My parents were Arkansas sharers until 1951, when my father dared his boss to stand up because he did not pay a fair salary at the agricultural weighing station. Under the threat of KKK, he left the town with a van and was covered in hay and therefore would not be found. Three months later - after months of threats of violence at Klan in our home - our family rode the same wagon on their way to California.
My parents were able to sign up for a vote only when we settled in Los Angeles and eventually got rid of the fear that such a simple act would trigger Jim Crow South’s violence and fatal retribution.
My family’s life experience faces discrimination and vigilance from the South, especially now Congress has considered the Save Act. The House recently approved the Save Act with fake measures, which would prevent illegal voting – a problem that is facilitated by unlimited rare but groundless narratives.
If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the real effect of the bill would be to deprive millions of voters nationwide and in California.
Don't fool Americans by fear and misleading remarks. The Save Act has one real intention: silence millions of qualified voters. This effort, purposefully targets unserved and underserved populations, anyone who changes his surname and who serves in our armed forces, citing several groups that will be affected. The proposal is both undemocratic and unconstitutional.
It won't stop. The bill will serve as a catalyst for catalyzing decades of hard constitutional rights. You don't have to be born deep in the South to know that this is Jim Crow 2.0.
Some of our federal lawmakers are trying to steal our voting rights under the guise of false election claims. Let me know: voter fraud does not actually exist.
According to the conservative group Heritage Foundation 12 voter fraud cases Prosecuted in California since 2021, and it is unlimited millions of votes. National research confirms Voters imitate very rarelymost claims stem from documentary errors rather than deception. Even if you think illegal voting is a problem that requires a solution, this preservation behavior is like swaying on a mosquito with a sledgehammer - unlikely to be effective for the target and can cause a lot of collateral damage.
No matter which state new voters are registering, they must prove their U.S. citizenship at the time of registration. Each state conducts voter list maintenance to identify potentially unqualified voters. The state has ensured that the vote is safe without depriving the rights of the vulnerable.
By adding unnecessary and heavy documentary requirements, the Save Act will prevent millions of Americans from participating in the election. That's the point. Some lawmakers hope that millions of citizens decide that voting is not worth the hassle. The fewer voters will benefit more.
This legislation will directly affect you, people you know or both. The most affected people include:
Through design, the Save Act has put an incredible burden on millions of people who are already qualified to vote. If they decide to try to re-register the vote, they will face a difficult task. State offices across the country will be flooded with millions of people seeking citizenship.
Many older people may not be able to line up for hours. Citizens with disabilities may effectively prohibit access to documents.
If you have a current passport, you might be lucky - but about 140 million Americans don't. And your California driver's license or RealID is not working properly; neither meets the proof of citizenship.
Even before the Save Act landed in the Senate, California was fighting back against another effort to seize constitutional rights. On March 25, President Trump issued an executive order requiring citizens to provide documentary proof of citizenship on the federal mail voter registration form. I work with Atty, California. General Rob Bonta, in a lawsuit with Nevada, opposes unconstitutional and illegal executive orders. Another 17 state attorney generals joined our battle.
Throughout the history of the country, voting rights have been systematically restricted to silence powerful voices. From the poll tax abolished by Amendment No. 24 of 1964 to the barriers to the removal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, every step forward is a fight against intentional disenfranchisement of citizenship.
No one can seriously say that the “Salvation Act” actually encourages people to vote and even ensures that eligible people can exercise their right to participate in our democracy. This is to keep people away from voting. This is an ancient story. Just ask my family about the South.
Some members of Congress seem conveniently to care about the constitutional rights of ethnic minorities, our military, women, and poor or rural citizens.
The Senate needs to stop this nonsense. You can help. Contact your U.S. Senator immediately and urge them to oppose the Save Act. Educate your friends, family and community about the true intentions of the bill. Participate in local voter registration drives and support organizations that fight voter suppression. Your voice is important. Use it to defend democracy.
California Secretary Shirley N. Weber oversees all federal and state elections in the state.