Statement from NLIHC President and CEO on the SAVE Act and its Impact on Low-Income Voters

Washington, D.C. - “The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), our partners in the nonpartisan Our Homes, Our Votes campaign, and tens of thousands of low-income voters, urge the U.S. Senate to end debate on the SAVE Act and oppose its passage.

The SAVE Act would require every American to provide documentary proof of citizenship each time they register to vote or update their registration. Existing laws already require citizenship to vote in federal and state elections, and instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare. This bill creates an unnecessary barrier that suppress participation—disproportionately disenfranchising communities already pushed to the margins of our democracy, including low-income renters, voters of color, young voters, voters with disabilities, seniors, Tribal communities and rural voters.  

In February 2026, NLIHC joined more than 130 national, state, and local organizations in a Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights sign-on letter strongly opposing the SAVE Act. Research finds that renters are more likely to move frequently, often across county or state lines, requiring repeated voter registration updates. Under this bill, each move would trigger burdensome re-registration requirements, often in person. People who change their names, including approximately 69 million married women, could face additional barriers due to unclear documentation requirements.  Additionally, voters in Tribal communities often have nontraditional addresses that don’t match Department of Motor Vehicles’ records, leaving this group reliant on third-party groups to assist with registration. Outreach efforts of this kind would be restricted under the SAVE Act. The fact is that third-party voter registration drives online tools and mail-in options, which have historically been crucial in engaging voters who have limited resources. Removing third-party voter options strips away the few paths to civic participation available to many marginalized communities. 

Supporters of the SAVE Act rely on misinformation and baseless allegations of voter fraud to push the legislation. Let’s be clear; this is a modern-day poll tax—an effort to make voting harder for those already facing barriers, undermining both access and the integrity of our democratic process.  

NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes campaign will continue to push back on this legislation and any other bill that endorses voter suppression. Instead, we will support policies such as the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act" that help low-income renters build the political will needed to implement robust solutions to the affordable housing crisis.” 

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