Chip Roy's SAVE Act: Recycling Decades-Old Voter Suppression Tactics
From Poll Taxes to Photo IDs: A continuation of Conservative's legacy of voter disenfranchisement.
The way that social media algorithms work is that if I interact with an account, or an account interacts with me regularly, then I am most likely to see that person on my feed (even if we weren’t following each other).
I’ve been researching which Texas Republicans are involved with Project 2025 and which have ties with the Heritage Foundation’s CEO, Kevin Roberts. Roberts recently said, “The far-right is having a second Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it.”
Unfortunately, Kevin Roberts started his career at the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), a group deeply connected to the Republicans in the Texas Legislature. Many Texas Republicans have ties with Project 2025. However, in my research, one Texas politician had more interviews and attended more events with Kevin Roberts than any other Republican.
That Republican is Congressman Chip Roy.
Because I have been posting photos of Chip Roy and Kevin Roberts on Twitter and tagging Congressman Roy in them, now his fascist Republican dribble is all over my news feed—particularly H.R.8281 - Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. We’ll get to that, but first, here is Chip Roy and his many appearances with Kevin Roberts (who wants the left to allow a fascist takeover of the government, and if we don’t, he promises violence):
Unironically, only last week, Chip Roy said he wanted to ethnically cleanse white progressive Democrats.
The Safeguard American Voting Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
The SAVE Act introduces stricter voter registration requirements in federal elections. Specifically, it mandates that individuals provide documentary proof of US citizenship when registering to vote. Acceptable forms of proof include REAL ID-compliant identification, valid US passports, military IDs with records of US birth, government-issued photo IDs showing US birth, certified birth certificates, hospital birth records, adoption decrees, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, naturalization certificates, or American Indian Cards.
Brennan Center for Justice: Noncitizens Are Not Voting in Federal or State Elections
Axios: Why there’s no big wave of immigrants voting illegally
NBC News: Trump and Mike Johnson zero in on noncitizen voting. It’s already illegal and very rare.
While Chip Roy and other Republicans will argue that these measures are necessary to prevent noncitizens from voting and ensure elections’ integrity, they are entirely glossing over the fact that such requirements create significant barriers for many eligible voters.
Brennan Center for Justice: The Challenge of Obtaining Voter Identification
Obtaining the required documents can be challenging for low-income individuals, elderly citizens, and minorities, who may lack access to the necessary resources or face bureaucratic hurdles in acquiring the appropriate identification. These groups are more likely to experience difficulties securing documentation due to financial constraints, lack of transportation, or complex administrative processes.
Implementing this bill could lead to widespread disenfranchisement, as eligible voters may be deterred from registering due to the added burden of providing specific documentation. Verifying and removing noncitizens from voter rolls raises concerns about errors and the potential for eligible voters to be wrongfully removed.
Here in Texas, we have become adept at recognizing voter suppression tactics from a mile away.
This is not a new phenomenon but rather a continuation of a long-standing strategy employed by Republicans over the past two decades. It’s incredible that Republican voters still eat it up.
Chip Roy’s introduction of the SAVE Act is just the latest iteration of this effort to limit voter participation under the guise of protecting election integrity. Historically, voter suppression in Texas has taken various forms, from gerrymandering to restrictive voter ID laws.
In 2011, Texas passed one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country. This law required voters to present a government-issued photo ID at the polls. This law was later challenged and partially struck down in court for being discriminatory against minorities and low-income voters.
It should be noted that after Texas’ ID law was implemented, the courts found that 600,000 Texans were disenfranchised.
2012 was the only presidential election in the last twenty years in which the Democrats lost numbers. Voter disenfranchisement was partly to blame.
The SAVE Act fits neatly into this pattern. By requiring specific forms of identification to register to vote, it places an undue burden on particular segments of the population.
Of course, Republicans will say, “My ID only costs $25. It’s no big deal, everyone has a drivers’ license.”
Know that when they say that, it’s coming from a place of privilege.
The combined cost of document fees, travel expenses, and waiting time are estimated to range from $75 to $175.
In Texas, some people in rural areas must travel approximately 170 miles to reach the nearest ID office.
Source: ACLU
The rationale given by Republicans is to prevent voter fraud.
However, numerous studies and reports have shown that voter fraud is exceedingly rare.
Brennan Center for Justice: Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth
Brookings Institute: Widespread election fraud claims by Republicans don’t match the evidence
Even the fascist organization the Heritage Foundation claims there have only been 1,513 instances of voter fraud since 1979. Math! That’s an average of 34 incidents per year in a country of (give or take over the years) 300 million. That’s about one in 100 million votes in an incident of fraud.
In reality, these laws disproportionately affect those who are less likely to have the required documentation readily available, such as the elderly, low-income individuals, and minorities.
It is the same old wash, rinse, and repeat tactic that Republicans have been using to manipulate the electorate for the past 20 years. By erecting barriers to voting, they aim to reduce turnout among demographic groups that tend to vote for Democrats, and they are making it a big issue right before what could be a tight election.
This method of voter suppression is a direct attack on the democratic process and the right of every eligible citizen to have their voice heard.
The SAVE Act is not about ensuring election integrity, as Chip Roy claims, but rather about maintaining political power by making it harder for specific populations to vote.
As Texans, we must continue to fight against such measures. Our democracy thrives when every eligible citizen can participate without undue barriers. The history of voter suppression in Texas, from gerrymandering to restrictive voter ID laws, shows a pattern of deliberate disenfranchisement.
The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and it is our responsibility to safeguard it against any attempts to undermine it.
We can vote out Chip Roy in November.
Dr. Kristin Hook is running against him; please consider volunteering or donating to her campaign and following her on social media. Here are her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Vote early, vote often, just vote.
121 days left until the November 5 election!
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Dear Crystal Gayden,, Dem Party Chair , Tarrant County
Even as u abdicted any campaign efforts, you could be building a vote integrity machine. with poll watchers and lawyers at the ready.
where are those plans?
Roy is so quaint. A bill. That is so passe in the Project 2025 epoc. Project 2025 does all that without passing a single law. Project 2025 wants to do away with democracy and install an autocracy with sham elections.