James Demands Congress Reject Voter Suppression Bill

New York – In a bold stand against election obstruction, Attorney General Letitia James joined forces with 17 other attorneys general to denounce the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAFE) Act. The proposed legislation, they argue, would impose stringent citizenship proof requirements on voters, potentially disenfranchising millions.

Attorney General James warned that the SAFE Act poses a significant threat to democracy, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and reversing decades of voter registration progress. ‘The right to vote is under siege with this bill,’ she stated, adding that the act is merely a guise for voter suppression.

The coalition highlighted several concerns, including the burden of obtaining costly documentation, the elimination of online voter registration systems, and the impact on active-duty service members. They also emphasized that 21 million citizens lack essential documents like passports or birth certificates, while 80% of married women would be left without valid birth certificates under the act.

The attorneys general further criticized the administrative and financial strain the SAFE Act would impose on states, necessitating a complete overhaul of voter registration procedures. The act also threatens election officials with up to five years in prison for document verification errors.

Despite the negligible risk of non-citizen voting – studies show less than 0.0001% of votes cast by non-citizens in high immigrant areas – the SAFE Act would impose heavy burdens on eligible voters, particularly affecting poor and minority communities. Attorney General James calls for congressional leaders to oppose the act, emphasizing that maintaining election integrity must not come at the expense of voter rights.

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