James Leads Charge Against Voter Suppression Bill

New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined forces with 17 other state attorneys general to denounce the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAFE) Act, a proposed legislation that they argue poses a grave threat to the democratic process.

The coalition argues that the bill, which aims to amend the National Voter Registration Act, would impose unnecessary burdens on eligible voters by requiring documentary proof of citizenship. They warn that this would disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, creating barriers that could disenfranchise millions.

Attorney General James emphasized the importance of the right to vote as the cornerstone of democracy. ‘The so-called SAFE Act is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress voter participation and we urge Congress to reject it,’ she said.

The coalition highlights several concerns with the legislation, including the expense of obtaining documentation for many Americans, the elimination of online registration systems, and the threat to service members’ voting rights. They also note that the administrative and financial burdens on state election systems would be substantial, potentially criminalizing errors by election officials.

Attorney General James further pointed out that non-citizen voting is extremely rare, with studies showing only a negligible risk in high immigrant areas. Despite this, the SAFE Act targets eligible voters, especially poor and minority communities, imposing significant burdens on them.

This letter to Congress comes as part of Attorney General James’ ongoing efforts to protect voting rights, ensuring that the integrity of our elections does not come at the expense of disenfranchisement.

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