To the Journal editor:

Republicans have proposed myriad voter suppression laws since 2020 based on the lie that our elections are wrought with voter fraud.

The latest attempt, the SAVE Act is a solution looking for a problem. it supposedly is meant to address the issue of non citizens voting.

This is not an issue. It is already illegal, under penalty of perjury and deportation, for a noncitizen to register to vote. Who would risk deportation to illegally register to vote? Many audits and studies have shown that non citizens voting happens about once a year. Literally.

To prevent this non-problem, the bill proposes requiring registrants to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

A birth certificate that matches your current name (that rules out women who changed their names upon marrying) or a passport would be required. Some 21 million eligible voters do not have access to their birth certificates (this does not include all the women who don’t have birth certificates with their current names) or a passport.

On top of that it would end on line registration and registering by mail. Making it very difficult if not impossible for elderly, disabled and rural residents to register.

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, needs to show is loyalty to his constituents by not only voting against, but speaking out against this bill.

By passing voter protection initiatives in 2018 and 2022, Michigan voters made it clear that we want expanded voting rights, not restricted voting rights.

This bill is clearly voter suppression, no matter what it is called.