Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) has been leading the fight all week to defend Americans’ fundamental right to vote and speaking out in hearings, taking to the House floor, and introducing three key amendments to the Republican-led SAVE America Act to stop provisions that would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. From challenging the bill’s false claims about election security to offering concrete fixes to protect mail ballot access and prevent costly proof-of-citizenship requirements, Rep. Torres has used every tool available to push back against Republican attempts to rig our democracy and undermine free and fair elections.
The SAVE America Act, championed by House Republicans, would impose sweeping new proof of citizenship requirements that voting rights advocates warn would create unnecessary barriers to the ballot box and suppress the vote of eligible American citizens. In response, Congresswoman Torres introduced amendments to protect mail-in voters, ensure no American pays to exercise their right to vote, and shield donor states from punitive mandates.
“Republicans can call it whatever they want, but the SAVE Act is about making it harder for eligible Americans to vote,” said Congresswoman Torres. “If you truly care about election integrity, you should also care about protecting access to the ballot. My amendments would preserve fairness, access, and make sure no one is priced out of their constitutional rights.”
Torres Amendments to the SAVE Act include:
1. Mail Ballot Amendment
Strikes the provision that creates burdensome identification requirements for mail-in ballots, protecting voters who rely on vote-by-mail systems that are already secure and widely used across the country.
2. Cost Amendment
Clarifies that obtaining any form of acceptable proof of citizenship under the bill must come at no cost to U.S. citizens. The amendment would either waive passport fees or require the federal government to provide an alternative form of identification that proves citizenship at no charge.
3. Donor State Amendment
Exempts donor states from the bill’s new and burdensome requirements, preventing states that already contribute more federal revenue than they receive from being penalized with costly, unfunded mandates.
“States that already carry more than their fair share should not be saddled with additional bureaucratic burdens,” Torres said. “This amendment protects hardworking taxpayers from another unfunded mandate disguised as election reform.”
Congresswoman Torres emphasized that there is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting and that election officials already verify voter eligibility using state and federal data systems.
“This is about power,” Torres concluded. “When politicians cannot win voters over, they try to silence them. I will continue fighting to protect every American’s right to participate in our democracy.”
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