I am grateful for all those people who went out and used their privilege to vote this week. That is one way we let our voice be heard and do our duty to protect our democracy. Today I share with another way we can let our voice be heard and protect the vulnerable among us.
A bill called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act is currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. It will require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. States would be prohibited from processing voter registration applications unless applicants provide specific documentation, such as a U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, or naturalization certificate.
The National Council of Churches calls churches and their members to contact our Senators and urge them to oppose the SAVE America Act. If passed, this legislation will create significant barriers for eligible voters, including:
Low-income individuals who cannot afford document fees and related costs
Seniors, especially those born at home or to midwives, whose birth records may be incomplete, inaccurate, or difficult to obtain
Black and Brown communities, who are more likely to experience documentation disparities due to longstanding historical inequities
College students who may not have ready access to original documents while living away from home, and many others who already face economic and systemic inequities
Beloveds, our faith calls us to stand with and for those who continue to be disenfranchised by our society. If you can, please contact your Senators and urge them to oppose this bill.
And, let us not forget to care for ourselves and to stay grounded, so nothing gets to us in a way that paralyses us from caring for ourselves and those around us.
Let us remain intentional in checking on one another, reminding each other that we are beloveds of the one who created us. Let us keep moving forward with courage, compassion, and conviction, always find good in all we see and do and experience.
