This is an opinion piece. We value the diverse opinions of our readers and we welcome robust, wide-ranging thoughts and ideas on subjects relevant to Mendocino County. The following opinion is not representative of The Mendocino Voice, its publisher, editor or staff. Opinion pieces can be sent to info@mendovoice.com.
“Are your papers in order?” This common phrase in old movies, barked in a German accent, had a clear meaning: only in places like Nazi Germany could an armed person demand proof of citizenship and arrest anyone without the right documents. Equally clear was the unspoken message that this was distinctly unAmerican and wouldn’t be tolerated in a free country.
What about now? Are your papers in order? Yes, right now: with what you have in your wallet, purse, pocket, or even in a safe deposit box, could you prove that you’re an American citizen?
Republican members of Congress have resurrected last year’s SAVE Act as the SAVE America Act. A similar ballot initiative has gathered enough signatures within California to be voted on here. If these were to become law, millions of us would be robbed of the right to vote because the papers we’ve always relied on simply aren’t “in order” anymore.
Is voter fraud a threat to our elections?
Only if you think that a 0.00000764% fraud rate is a problem. The Heritage Foundation is a well-known conservative think tank. It did an in-depth examination of nationwide elections covering the years 1999 – 2023. Here’s what they found:
- 77 non-citizens successfully cast ballots nationwide over 24 years of elections
- 10 undocumented immigrants nationwide voted in 24 years of elections
- Over 1 billion ballots were cast in those years
That means the fraud rate was 0.00000764%—totally insignificant.
How many people might lose their right to vote?
Ask Kansas. A Kansas version of this act went into effect in 2013 and was ruled unconstitutional in 2018. The law had blocked the registration of around 31,000 otherwise eligible voters: 12% of all those who had tried to register for the first time. Only 28 non-citizens had tried to register during those years. Even Scott Schwab, Kansas’ Republican Secretary of State, told The Associated Press in 2024 that the federal government should avoid replicating it: “Kansas did that 10 years ago. It didn’t work out so well.”
So why is proof of citizenship such a big issue for Republicans?
Because they admit they can’t win if all citizens actually vote! Lindsey Graham, Senator for South Carolina, to Fox News in November 2020: “If we don’t do something about voting by mail, we are going to lose the ability to elect a Republican in this country.”
President Trump on March 9, 2026 at the House GOP’s annual issues conference in Florida: “enacting the legislation will guarantee the midterms. If you don’t get it, big trouble.”
If the SAVE America Act passes, what happens to my right to vote?
When registering to vote, or changing address or party, a person would need to show proof of citizenship in person at an elections office. As over 12 percent of Americans move each year, millions of voters would be affected annually.
Counties only have one registrar of elections office. In our large rural counties this hours-long trek would be a significant barrier for people without reliable transportation and for the elderly or disabled.
Both to register and each time you cast a ballot you would have to provide a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate.
- Your drivers license won’t work! Licenses that meet Real ID requirements don’t indicate citizenship.
- Your military ID won’t work either, unless it is accompanied by your military service record and if that record shows you were born in the U.S.A.
- Your Tribal ID might work if it says you were born in the U.S.A. But most Tribal IDs don’t list a place of birth.
What about a birth certificate? Even if you can find or replace yours, it only works if your current name and gender on a photo ID matches the name on your birth certificate.
- About 69 million women and 4 million men in the U.S.A. changed their names when they married.
- Changes due to divorce and adoption are common.
- There are many people who, due to adoption or unstable family history, aren’t sure what city, county or state they were born in, so they can’t request their birth certificate.
- If you’ve suffered a natural disaster, as is happening to more and more Americans, you’re starting all over trying to get vital documents
Doesn’t everybody have a passport? Nope. Almost half of us don’t.
- About 146 million citizens don’t have a passport.
- In seven states, fewer than one-third of citizens have a valid passport: West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
This doesn’t sound so good. But wait, there’s more!
The SAVE America Act demands that states submit their voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security to run through its notoriously inaccurate “citizen verification program” and then do voter purges every 30 days.
An audit by the North Carolina State Board of Elections found that over 97% of people identified as non-citizens by their DMV actually were citizens. The national Systemic Alien Verification for Entitlements database incorrectly identified 75% of naturalized citizens as being non-citizens.
The result: you could lose your right to vote due to bureaucratic error and not know it.
California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber points out that the Act imposes unrealistic requirements on state and local elections officials. It threatens honest civil servants with fines and jail for simply doing their jobs if any member of the public has a complaint.
Mendocino County Registrar of Voters Katrina Bartolomei reports that while totally revamping and maintaining our system would be mandated by the federal government, it’s an “unfunded mandate.” Put plainly, not a penny of our federal tax dollars will come back to us to help pay for it.
When would it go into effect?
The Save America Act would be effective as soon as the president signs it. Millions of us would immediately lose access to voting while states and counties scramble to create new systems and processes, with no extra money to do so and with the threat of criminal liability if they get even one step wrong.
What can I do?
- Contact your elected representatives to let them know you expect them to oppose the SAVE act.
- Share this information with friends and family in other states, especially red and purple states or districts, so they can pressure their representatives.
- Protect your own right to vote by making sure your IDs match up and by obtaining needed documents.
Janet Rosen is a member of Ukiah Invisible.
With the increased foreign influence in our elections wouldn’t you think protecting the citizen right to vote and maintaining the integrity of elections would be something we could all get together on, both the left and the right? Nope. More division. So why is the left fighting this so hard?
For responsible citizens, “keeping your papers in order,” is how you do taxes every year. Too much paperwork is a weak argument. It says voting should be simple, quick and easy.
The reported low fraud rate is because states will not allow the cross-checking of voter rolls against verifiable federal databases of citizens, i.e., social security, passport lists, etc. Not being able to check and verify makes it appear the problem does not even exist.
I would think we could all come together on election integrity. If our citizens cannot trust the election results, then whatever government comes into power will automatically be viewed with distrust, suspicion, and a sense of illegitimacy. We need a stronger faith in our election process. We need to be sure that it is fair and only citizens vote. This is foundational to our system of government.
Dave is literally a foreign influence campaign employee! His overly proper use of American English and his participation in very selective subjects here give him away as a foreign influence troll. Get lost Dave.
My Number One Fan.
You have no opinions of your own, you just search for and read my comments. Then try to attack me, but not what I have written. Seems childish, doesn’t it? Well son, you can go back to playing your video game now. You’re just not ready for the adult world where mature conversations take place.
Some day Dave’s going to lose his job as a troll farmer when his sponsors are winning election anymore….
As a new member of the Dave Fan Club, your application has been approved. Thank you for your initial membership pledge of $100. We welcome your loyalty and very wise decision to join us. (Invoice to follow.)
*Aren’t
It’s really simple. if you really “want” to vote, show your id, just like if you really “want” to buy beer or shovel snow in NYC, it’s the price of admission. Otherwise, your SOL. Just stop it and quit yer whining!
Thanks Dave for your comments. I love it when you trigger the anti-Americans.
They have no comebacks to your comments. Just troll troll troll. Keep up your very informative comments.👍
How do I apply to your fan club? 😆
Ha. Thanks. All you need is a deeply held belief America is the best place on earth where you can call home, to be glad and thankful that you are living in this great country. That’s it.
Very nice to meet you Carol. Have a great day!