Elissa Slotkin claims passing the SAVE America Act would make it harder for Dems to win elections, 'disenfranchise married women'

Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin said at a town hall that the SAVE America Act would “rig our democracy,” adding that it would not only “disenfranchise all married women” by requiring a birth certificate at the polls if they have a married name, but also make it harder for any Democrat in any state to win an election. The Act would require that voters show proof of citizenship before casting a ballot, whether through voter ID or another means.

“This talking point from the Left is not only false, but it also paints women as incapable, which we all know is not the case,” he said. “Showing up to the polls to vote with an ID that proves you’re an American citizen — whether you’re married or not — is common sense. We need to pass the SAVE America Act.”

Utah Sen. Mike Lee also pushed back on Slotkin’s claims on X, calling them preposterous.

“By that same logic, no married woman in America could fill out an I-9 form — which every American must do when starting a new job,” he said. “This is absurd. And it highlights why we need to pass the SAVE America Act.”

Chip Roy, who co-authored the high-profile piece of legislation, claimed that requiring proof of citizenship would expose weaknesses in Michigan’s electoral process.

Several states have passed new laws requiring proof of citizenship to vote, including purple-state Arizona, which passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement in 2004 and has experienced an uptick in overall voter turnout since the law was passed. Many other states already have them.

The SAVE America Act has experienced significant turbulence in the Senate after a relatively uneventful passage in the House. Its progress has been hampered by Democratic opposition and, to the anger of President Trump, by four Republican senators as well. Trump has entertained passage of the SAVE Act via a budget related vote which would bypass the 60 vote threshhold needed for procedure, but there has been no definitive decision so far to attach the bill to a budget reconciliation package, a move that could face significant hurdles in the Senate.

The legislation remains the most contentious election bills in Congress in recent memory, with Republicans arguing it would protect the integrity of the voting system, while Democrats warn it could create obstacles for voters to casting their ballots. The debate is expected to continue as lawmakers decide whether the bill can gain enough support to advance through the Senate.