The Current Fight for Housing and Voting Rights

This is as outrageous as it sounds.

At a time when families are struggling with sky-high rents, unaffordable child care, and rising grocery costs, Donald Trump is holding bipartisan housing legislation hostage in an effort to force Congress to pass the anti-voter SAVE America Act. [1]

Tell Congress: Protect our voting rights and REJECT the SAVE America Act — in any form.

Instead of helping families afford a place to live, Trump is demanding that Congress choose between making housing more affordable and protecting our freedom to vote.

That's a false choice. Families deserve both.

Young families are struggling to buy their first home, renters are being squeezed by rising housing costs, and seniors on fixed incomes are worried about whether they can afford to stay in their communities. Donald Trump should be focused on signing this bipartisan bill to lower housing costs, not making it harder for eligible Americans to vote.

Why the SAVE America Act Threatens Our Democracy

And don't let the name fool you. The SAVE America Act would save no one. And Congress MUST reject it.

This bill would require Americans to produce citizenship documents such as a passport or birth certificate in order to register to vote. More than 21 million Americans do not have ready access to those documents, and roughly half of Americans do not have a passport. [2]

Women could be among those hit hardest: Are you one of the nearly 69 million married women in America who changed your name after marriage? Is your current legal name on your birth certificate? No? Then proving your eligibility to vote could become significantly more difficult. [3]

Creating New Barriers for Vulnerable Americans

But the damage doesn't stop there. The SAVE America Act would create new barriers for married women, moms, young voters, seniors, rural voters, military families, and low-income Americans. It would require states to share voter information with the federal government and it would threaten vote-by-mail systems that millions of Americans rely on. [4]

Think about who that impacts: seniors who can no longer easily get to a government office to obtain documents, rural voters who may live hours from vital records offices, military families stationed away from home, parents juggling work and child care, and people who simply cannot afford the cost and time required to secure additional paperwork.

This bill doesn't protect democracy — it puts new obstacles between eligible Americans and the ballot box. Tell Congress to REJECT the SAVE America Act in any form.

And while families are desperate for relief from high housing costs, Trump is using bipartisan housing legislation as leverage to force through this voter suppression bill. We refuse to choose between affordable housing and the freedom to vote.

Join moms across the country in telling Congress: reject the SAVE America Act wherever it appears — whether as standalone legislation, attached to another bill, or inserted into must-pass legislation.

We will not allow politicians to silence the voices of women, moms, and families at the ballot box.

Tell Congress: Vote NO on the SAVE America Act.

Together we are powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the SAVE America Act?

The SAVE America Act is a proposed bill that would require individuals to present restrictive proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, in order to register to vote in federal elections. Opponents argue that it introduces unnecessary barriers that disproportionately impact legitimate voters.

Why does the SAVE America Act disproportionately impact married women?

Many married women change their surnames after marriage. Because their current legal names do not match the names on their birth certificates, proving voter eligibility under this act would require extra, often costly, documentation, adding significant hurdles to the registration process.

How is this bill connected to current housing legislation?

Bipartisan housing legislation meant to lower rents and provide relief to families is being tied to the passage of the SAVE America Act, effectively using essential economic relief as leverage to pass restrictive voter laws.

References:
[1] Trump Refuses to Sign Housing Bill Until Unpopular Voting Restrictions Pass Congress, New York Times
[2] New SAVE Act Bills Would Still Block Millions of Americans From Voting, The Brennan Center for Justice
[3] New SAVE Act Bills Would Still Block Millions of Americans From Voting, The Brennan Center for Justice
[4] Brennan Center Letter to the Senate Opposing the SAVE America Act, The Brennan Center for Justice

This article details MomsRising's petition urging Congress to reject the SAVE America Act and protect voter accessibility and affordable housing.