Concerns Raised Over SAVE America Act
Stacey Abrams, who has run for Georgia governor twice without success, expressed concerns that the SAVE America Act could disadvantage certain groups, thereby benefiting Republicans in closely contested elections.
Abrams discussed this on MS NOW, stating, “Oppression is very real. In elections decided by close margins, voter suppression persists. For instance, the push to eliminate mail-in voting unless proof of citizenship is provided is problematic. Every citizen is already required to prove their citizenship to be listed. These stricter measures seem designed to quiet the voices of everyday people—seniors, those living in rural areas, individuals with disabilities, students, and people of color. If these bills and executive orders are enacted, they may significantly diminish electoral support for the Republicans.”
Her comments come amid Republican efforts to advance the SAVE America Act, which proposes proof of citizenship for voter registration, mandates voter ID, restricts mail-in voting to specific scenarios like illness or military service, and includes measures to protect women’s sports and restrict transgender surgeries for minors.
On March 26, former President Donald Trump urged Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to facilitate funding for the Department of Homeland Security and advance the SAVE America Act. In a post on Truth Social, he called for an end to the filibuster, advocating for the passage of “all five parts” of the Act and warned that Democrats would eliminate it if they regained power.
Abrams, who previously served as the Georgia House Minority Leader, lost gubernatorial races in 2018 and 2022 to Republican Brian Kemp. Following her 2022 loss, Abrams faced scrutiny for accumulating over $100 million in campaign contributions while also recording more than $1 million in debt.
During a CNN segment in November 2024, Abrams argued that Georgia’s impressive early voting statistics do not discount the existence of voter suppression. She explained, “High turnout doesn’t equate to the absence of voter suppression.” Many voters in 2020 utilized mail-in voting, and the long lines observed today stem from laws like SB189, supported by Brad Raffensperger and Brian Kemp, and SB202, which complicate mail-in voting.”
Abrams further pointed out that “disabled and homeless individuals encounter significant barriers to voting, and they are not staying quiet about it.” She emphasized that voters “are enduring unnecessary waiting times because they believe their votes matter.”
