The "SAVE Act" as a Modern-Day Poll Tax and an Attack on Voting Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson Condemns the "SAVE Act" as a Modern-Day Poll Tax and an Attack on Voting Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 10, 2025 – Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson today issued a strong statement denouncing the so-called “SAVE Act,” labeling it a thinly veiled attempt at voter suppression that echoes the discriminatory practices of the Jim Crow era. In a forceful address, Congressman Jackson vowed to vehemently oppose the legislation, asserting that it undermines the fundamental right to vote and threatens to disenfranchise millions of Americans.

“Let us be unequivocally clear: the ‘SAVE Act’ is not about safeguarding our democracy; it is about restricting it,” stated Congressman Jackson. “This legislation, masquerading as a measure to protect elections, is in reality a modern-day poll tax dressed in bureaucratic hurdles. It is a calculated assault on the ballot box and a dangerous step backward for our nation.”

Congressman Jackson highlighted the bill’s mandate for proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, despite overwhelming evidence that non-citizen voting is virtually non-existent. He argued that this requirement would create unnecessary barriers for numerous eligible voters, disproportionately impacting Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, low-income, and elderly communities.

“The ‘SAVE Act’ is a direct descendant of the Jim Crow laws that sought to suppress the Black vote in the post-Reconstruction South,” Congressman Jackson asserted. “While the language may differ, the intent remains the same: to intimidate, confuse, and ultimately block marginalized communities from exercising their fundamental right to vote. This bill seeks to enshrine inequality and consolidate power by keeping millions of eligible Americans away from the polls.”

Drawing on data from the Brennan Center for Justice, Congressman Jackson pointed out that an estimated 21 million eligible Americans lack government-issued photo ID, and Black Americans are three times more likely than white Americans to be without such identification. “The ‘SAVE Act’ weaponizes this existing inequality, placing an undue burden on those already underserved by our institutions,” he explained.

Congressman Jackson underscored the historical struggle for voting rights in America, referencing the sacrifices made by civil rights icons and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He lamented the erosion of these protections following the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder (2013), which has paved the way for a surge of restrictive voting laws at the state level. “The ‘SAVE Act’ is not a defense of democracy; it is the culmination of efforts to suppress the vote and undermine the progress we have fought so hard to achieve,” he declared.

Dismissing claims of widespread non-citizen voting as baseless, Congressman Jackson cited findings from the Trump-era Department of Justice, Republican-led election audits, and independent studies that have consistently debunked such assertions. He also referenced data from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and Democracy Docket, highlighting the numerous ongoing legal challenges related to voting rights and election administration.

“The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy, and every expansion of that right has strengthened our nation,” Congressman Jackson concluded. “The ‘SAVE Act’ would reverse a century of hard-fought progress and move us further away from the ideal of a multiracial democracy. I will not stand idly by while this body considers legislation designed to silence the voices of those who have struggled longest for their right to be heard. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reject this disgraceful bill and stand with the American people in defense of true democracy.”

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