The SAVE America Act: Where It Stands and What It Means for County Election Administration
This event will take place on Zoom Webinar. Please email nacomeetings@naco.org with registration or login questions.
NACo is hosting a webinar on the SAVE America Act and where it stands currently stands. Participants will hear an overview of what the bill would require, the implementation timeline and cost implications for county election offices, and where things stand in the Senate. The briefing will be followed by a moderated discussion with two county election officials Chris Walker, Jackson County, Ore. Clerk, and Kim Trueblood, Marathon County, Wis. Clerk on what compliance would actually look like on the ground and why counties are opposed.
Background
Elections in the United States are primarily carried out by state and local governments — counties alone run more than 100,000 polling places supported by 770,000 certified poll workers. On July 22, the House advanced the SAVE America Act (H.R. 7296/S. 1383) on two parallel tracks: passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA; H.R. 8800) with the full SAVE America Act text attached; and separately passing a budget reconciliation framework, also referred to as Reconciliation 3.0 (H. Con Res. 113), that would include a grant incentive built around SAVE America Act-style provisions.
The SAVE America Act is much more than a bill requiring photo ID at the polls – it mandates that documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) must be presented by citizens registering to vote. For most Americans, this typically means a passport or certified birth certificate presented in person.
Federal election changes loom ahead of midterms
With the rapidly evolving federal legislative landscape, counties can get caught in the middle of policy changes with little guidance.
Supreme Court declines emergency review of USPS mail-in ballot rule, leaving nationwide block in place
The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision to allow the Trump administration to move forward with its Executive Order 14399 directing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to compile official U.S. citizenship lists to be used in voter citizenship verification and the U.S. Postal Service to impose new mail-in ballot restrictions.
USPS releases its final rule affecting mail-in voting for federal elections
The USPS released its final rule imposing new requirements on how state and local governments must administer mail-in voting, including new ballot envelope requirements and the creation of a national portal of mail-in voter data.
House advances SAVE America Act — counties urged to contact Senators now
NACo urges counties to reach out to Senators opposing immediate and unfunded changes to election administration in the SAVE America Act (H.R. 7296/S. 1383), which the House passed as part the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8800).
