Proposed SAVE Act Echoes Racist Voting Laws of the Past

Critics say the legislation is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress voter turnout and maintain political power.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:00am

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The proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would impose strict new requirements for voter registration and mail-in voting, has been criticized as a blatant attempt at voter suppression. Opponents argue the legislation echoes the racist poll taxes and voter roll purges of the Jim Crow era, with the goal of blocking millions of eligible citizens from casting ballots and keeping the Republican Party in power.

Why it matters

The SAVE Act is part of a broader effort by some Republican lawmakers to enact voting restrictions that disproportionately impact minority and low-income communities. Proponents claim the measures are necessary to prevent voter fraud, but studies have shown negligible evidence of non-citizens voting illegally. Critics view the legislation as a thinly veiled attempt to maintain political power by making it harder for certain groups to participate in the democratic process.

The details

The SAVE Act would require specific proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport or certified birth certificate, to register to vote. This would prevent more eligible citizens from registering than any previous legislation, as over 21 million Americans lack ready access to these documents. The bill would also mandate voter roll purges every 30 days, eliminating the 90-day protection against being mistakenly removed from the rolls before an election. Additionally, the SAVE Act would prohibit universal mail-in voting, even though several states already conduct safe and secure all-mail elections.

  • The SAVE Act passed the House in February 2026 and is currently before the Senate.
  • Former President Trump has publicly stated the legislation would 'guarantee' Republican success 'every election for a long time.'

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who has publicly endorsed the SAVE Act as a means of ensuring future Republican electoral victories.

Sen. Mike Lee

A Republican senator from Utah who posted polling data showing the GOP is expected to lose control of the Senate this year, and claimed the SAVE Act could 'turn this around.'

Kris Kobach

The former Kansas secretary of state who unsuccessfully defended his state's voter suppression law and failed to uncover evidence of widespread voter fraud as vice-chair of the 'Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.'

Marc H. Morial

The president and CEO of the National Urban League, who was mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002.

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What they’re saying

“The rhetoric that the Trump administration and its allies are using to promote the specter of noncitizen voting echoes the white nationalist 'Great Replacement' conspiracy theory of a plot to diminish the influence of white people.”

— Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League

“The legislation itself, which imposes onerous financial burdens on voters, is nothing short of a resurrection of the poll taxes of the Jim Crow era.”

— Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League

What’s next

The SAVE Act is currently before the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. If passed, the legislation would face legal challenges from civil rights groups and voting rights advocates who argue it is unconstitutional.

The takeaway

The SAVE Act is the latest in a series of voting restrictions proposed by Republican lawmakers that critics say are designed to disproportionately impact minority and low-income communities. The rhetoric and provisions of the legislation evoke the racist voter suppression tactics of the Jim Crow era, raising concerns about the health of American democracy.