LANSING, Mich. – Today, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joined state lawmakers and pro-democracy advocates to expose the dangers of the SAVE Act (HR 22) and other proposals that would block millions of eligible U.S. citizens from registering to vote in future elections. 

 

“This bill is not about election security. It’s a trick,” Secretary Benson said at Thursday’s press conference. “While we’ve spent the week talking about real solutions for Michiganders, the president’s allies in Congress have a plan in motion to block millions of American citizens from casting their ballot in future elections. We can work together with true leaders on both sides of the aisle to continue to strengthen our state’s secure, accessible election system. But the SAVE Act and proposals like it are not the way forward. Every Michigan voter should evaluate these bills with eyes wide open, with a clear understanding of what’s really at stake.” 

 

The SAVE Act would require voters to register in person with either their birth certificate, a U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate. Other documents like a Michigan driver’s license, state ID, or military ID would not meet the requirements of the proposed bill, nor would a Michigan REAL ID. Voters would lose their ability to register to vote by mail or online, overwhelming local election clerks and making elections much harder and more expensive to administer. 

 

The proposed legislation would significantly affect tribal citizens, low-income earners, people in rural communities, Black Michiganders, and active-duty military members who may not have access to federal identifying documents or resources to properly obtain one. In addition, the bill would jeopardize the voting rights of more than 2.2 million women in Michigan whose married names are not the same name on their birth certificate, potentially requiring them to purchase a passport to register to vote.  

 

“We are always looking for opportunities to improve our systems. We have demonstrated that we will put in the work,” said Michigan Sen. Jeremy Moss (D – Southfield). “But Republicans, both federally and sadly in the Michigan House of Representatives, are trying to roll back that progress and leave citizens out of the voting process. It is dangerous to our democracy, and it is a contrived distraction from real issues facing Michiganders.”

 

“Policies like these are like taking a chainsaw to our democracy,” Michigan Rep. Stephen Wooden (D – Grand Rapids) said. “And as someone who has used a chainsaw in the past, I know this for a fact. It may get the job done, but it's going to cause a lot of damage in the process, if you're not using it right. Instead, let's look for reasonable solutions and bring the fine-tuned scalpel we need to improve our election system to take us from number two to number one in the country, because I know we have the best and the brightest here to make that a reality, and I look forward to working with Senator Moss and Secretary Benson to accomplish that task and to stand up to any attacks on our elections and ensuring that every citizen in this state has the right to vote.”

 

“Michiganders are using the rights they fought for and voted for to grow a culture of voting and civic engagement in communities across our state, and now the SAVE Act threatens to strip them away,” Melanie Macey, policy counsel with Promote the Vote said. “The SAVE Act dismantles the rights of Michigan voters who just overwhelmingly affirmed them at the ballot box in 2022 and took advantage of in 2024 with record results, Michigan voters have spoken, and the message is loud and clear. We want voting to be secure and accessible for all eligible voters.”

 

"There has been no evidence of widespread fraud, but these laws will cause widespread disenfranchisement. These laws do not prevent fraud, they prevent democracy,” said Kyle Zawacki, legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan. “Democracy works best when is accessible, fair and inclusive, not when it’s manipulated by fear and misinformation. Instead of creating barriers, our lawmakers should focus on expanding access to the ballot, strengthening voter education and ensuring that every eligible Michigander can exercise their constitutional rights without unnecessary obstacles."

 

Secretary Benson is working with Sen. Moss, Rep. Wooden and other partners in the state Legislature to introduce the Michigan Election Security Act, a plan to protect Michiganders’ right to cast a ballot by improving current laws and codifying existing procedures. The Act will provide additional tools to help ensure eligible voters can easily register and vote, while helping election officials more effectively identify and remove ineligible voter registrations.

 

“I urge any state or federal lawmaker who is truly interested in strengthening the security of our system to work with us on plans like the Michigan Election Security Act instead of mass voter suppression schemes dressed up as security improvements,” Benson said.

 

For more information on election security, or how voter rolls are maintained in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/ElectionSecurity.