Pro-democracy leaders in Nevada spoke out Wednesday in Las Vegas against recent attempts by the president and Republicans in Congress to limit people's ability to vote.
President Donald Trump’s recent executive order severely limits mail-in voting and directs the Postal Service to send mail-in ballots only to people on a new, nationally approved voter list. Last month, the House of Representatives passed the "SAVE America Act," which would require a birth certificate or passport in order to register to vote.
U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., said married women who have changed their names and want to register to vote would face major obstacles.
"Eighty-four-percent of women who have been married have changed their names," she said. "That's 69 million women. Their birth certificate will not be sufficient. They will have to get an affidavit to be able to register to vote."
The U.S. Senate has already begun debate on the SAVE Act and could vote on the legislation when it returns from its spring recess. Trump is pressing Republicans to do away with the filibuster in order to pass this bill with a simple majority. He argues that the changes are necessary to prevent undocumented people from voting. However, it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote, and instances of voter fraud are minuscule.
U.S. Rep. Stephen Horsford, D-Nev., noted that the restrictions would go into effect immediately, possibly before the May primary and the November midterm election.
"What's at risk is our most fundamental right, our right to vote," he said. "The right by which every other privilege and every other right comes starts with the right to vote."
Brian Lemek, executive director of the Defend the Vote Action Fund, said Nevada already implements multiple anti-fraud security measures to verify and track every ballot.
"There are already incredible safeguards in place, signature verification and citizenship requirements," he said. "Nevada shows that you can expand access and still maintain strong security at the same time."
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has sued to stop the executive order from taking effect.
Source: Public News Service
