Source: Fox News
Summary
Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., is claiming that the Republican-led SAVE America Act would disenfranchise married women who have changed their last name, as they would need to change their birth certificate to match their government-issued ID to vote. However, under Michigan law, marriage is not a reason to correct a birth certificate. The bill would require federal voter registrants to present government-issued photo ID to verify their citizenship and would also require a photo ID to vote. Democrats, including Scholten, have voiced opposition to the bill, arguing it creates obstacles for voters to participate in federal elections.
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As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Rep. Hillary Scholten claims that the SAVE America Act would disenfranchise married women, but the bill’s language does not specify a last-name match requirement. The bill allows voters to use a certified birth certificate, passport, REAL ID, or military identification card to prove their citizenship. A senior GOP staffer and Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, argue that the bill accounts for name changes and provides mechanisms to ensure that married women are not disenfranchised. Scholten’s office did not respond to a request for clarification on her statement.
The discussion has returned to a familiar question: how to balance voter integrity with voter access.
The process has entered a familiar phase, where politicians argue over the potential impact of a bill on specific groups of voters.
It’s another example of how a seemingly straightforward issue can become a contentious debate.
The SAVE America Act has become a symbol of the ongoing struggle over voter ID laws.
Author: Evan Null
