CITY OF FORT BRAGG
416 N. Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
3/24/2026
Honorable Senator Alex Padilla
Honorable Senator Adam Schiff
Hart Senate Building (331, 112)
Washington, DC 20510
Senators Padilla and Schiff,
We, the City Council of Fort Bragg, California, write to you to voice our opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, along with its new iteration: the SAVE America Act. The SAVE Act will make it more difficult for millions of citizens to register to vote and cast a ballot, regardless of their party affiliation. ● The SAVE Act would require every American citizen to bring specific documentation—like a passport or original copy of a birth certificate—in person to register to vote or update their voter registration. This would apply to people who move, change their name, or change party affiliation. ● Many citizens do not have readily available access to the documents that would be permissible under the SAVE Act. ● Research indicates that more than nine percent of voting-age citizens, 21.3 million Americans, do not have proof of citizenship readily available, while at least 3.8 million do not have these documents at all due to loss, damage, or theft. ● It is already illegal for non-citizens to cast a ballot in federal elections, and states have secure systems in place to prevent non-citizens from voting. Those who violate the law already face severe penalties. ● Approximately 69 million female citizens nationwide do not have a birth certificate with their current legal name on it, meaning they may face additional hurdles to register to vote. ● Working-class Americans who have completed less education or have lower income are also far less likely to have a passport, so the SAVE Act would disproportionately impact working-class Americans. ● Older Americans, who are more likely to register to vote and vote at higher rates, are less likely than younger citizens to have a passport.
We urge you to oppose the SAVE Act and, instead, support legislation that will strengthen our elections and ensure that all eligible voters have access to the ballot box.
Sincerely,
Jason Godeke, Mayor
Vice Mayor Marcia Rafanan, Council Members Tess Albin-Smith, Scott Hocket, and Lindy Peters