The Navajo Nation has come out in formal opposition to the SAVE America Act, saying it would disproportionately affect Navajo voters and other indigenous tribal communities nationwide.
The Naabik’íyáti’ Committee unanimously passed legislation on Thursday to formally establish the Navajo Nation’s opposition to the bill.
The measure, HR 7296, passed the U.S. House in February on a 218-213 vote, but it has not passed the Senate, where it faces stiff opposition.
The bill would mandate that people show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and to vote in federal elections. This would require either a U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate, as well as photo ID such as a driver’s license.
In a press release, Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley said many tribal elders were not born in hospitals and would have to travel long distances to get a birth certificate.
“On the Navajo Nation, many voters could be forced to travel more than 100 miles to comply with the proposed new requirements, making multiple trips for registration, primary elections, and general elections,” the release says.
No one in the Navajo Nation’s public information office could be reached for comment.
Under the act, birth certificates would have to meet several criteria in order to even be considered valid.
The legislation says birth certificates must include the full names of at least one parent, the signature of an authorized government official, and the seal of the state or local/tribal government that issued it.
Not all birth certificates contain all those criteria, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, and people whose current legal name differs from the name on their birth certificate – such as married women – may have to show further documentation.
About half of people in the United States have passports, according to the State Department.
Supporters of the act say it would prevent undocumented and other ineligible people from voting.
Critics say voting fraud is extremely rare and by requiring people to pay for birth certificates or passports, the measure amounts to a poll tax, which is illegal.
“Navajo voters, along with other tribes, represent a powerful voting bloc,” Curley said in the release. “We have seen how our communities can influence the outcome of federal and state elections, as demonstrated in 2020. We must stand united to protect our right to vote.”
