Why let SAVE Act restrict access to a right we all agree on?

The League of Women Voters of Illinois recently received an invitation to testify as part of a panel at an Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee Hearing.

On behalf of the League, I want to extend a thank you to Committee Chair Rep. Maurice A. West, a Rockford Democrat, and Vice Chair Rep. Katie Stuart, an Edwardsville Democrat, for the invitation, and to Republican Spokesperson Rep. Patrick Windhorst, a Metropolis Republican, for engaging the panel in a genuinely open dialogue about our concerns.

In preparing for my testimony — and in delivering it — something gnawed at me. Missing among multiple facts and talking points, and hidden under subtle (and maybe some not-so-subtle) accusations sat a feeling that I struggled to put my finger on.

The moment of clarity finally came during a generally amicable exchange between panelist and the committee. That clarity emerged as we took steps toward rudimentary consensus.

No one had voiced disagreement that American citizens have a right to vote. Neither did anyone voice support for voting rights being impeded by government action. Likewise, there was agreement that non-citizens should not be on our voting rolls, and they should not be able to vote. There was also consensus that intentionally misrepresenting citizenship to gain access to the ballot should be illegal and that individuals who do so should be subject to punishments under the law. Simply put, there was general agreement as to the rights of citizens to vote under our Constitution and agreement to uphold the rule of law.

Not exactly earth-shattering statements in and of themselves. But it does beg the question as to how, when there is such close alignment in our beliefs and values about voting and elections — panelist and committee members, Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike — how we could end up with congressional legislation as bad as the SAVE Act? And more importantly, how do we stop it?

As for how we got here, there appears to have been a failure on the part of Congress to appreciate what’s important to all of us as Americans, regardless of our party or position. The Constitution and the rights it ensures us as Americans and human beings is bedrock. Creating a law that would diminish the rights of even one individual or subset of individuals ought to be a non-starter for all of us. And yet, that is exactly what the SAVE Act does.

Second, the voice of the American voter is being misinterpreted or misrepresented. I have no doubt that a large percentage of Americans have demanded that we do something as a country to keep non-citizens from voting.

Do I believe that an 80-year-old woman somewhere in Illinois who no longer drives and is relocating to assisted living sent a letter to her congressman demanding him/her to find a way to “fix” non-citizen voting? Of course. Do I think she meant “fix the problem even if it means I may be unable to prove my citizenship via in-person presentation of original documents; and yes, even if that means I can’t vote in the next election”? No.

I know of no citizen who would voluntarily give up her right to vote under these circumstances. I doubt any congressperson would. And no one should.

But the SAVE Act is placing many American citizens in a position to do just that, because the manner in which proof of citizenship is required in the bill — both cost and accessibility — is overly burdensome. Some eligible citizens will simply lose their ability to vote because they cannot comply or because they cannot afford to comply. I question whether most Americans understand this. And I doubt they understand that one of those citizens could be them.

And finally, why does Congress believe we need to compromise? Surely, we can strengthen our voter rolls while at the same time protecting every citizen’s right to vote. We live in a time of unprecedented technology and data capabilities. We’ve put a man on the moon. I feel confident that well-intentioned congressmen can craft a reasonable solution; one that works to serve both aims.

We, as voters and citizens, are not divided on citizens' (and only citizens) right to vote. We are united in this. But the SAFE Act and its ill-conceived draconian, paper, in-person, proof of citizenship requirements has served to divide us. Let’s come together, as hard as that seems at this time, to stand up for our mutual goals and tell our US senators that the US House got it wrong. We don’t need a law that makes us choose between clean voter registration rosters and our right to vote. We need both, and we expect them to work together to deliver.

After all, we’re all on the same side.

• Kathy Cortez, of Palatine, is vice president of League of Women Voters Illinois and co-chair of the League's Issues and Advocacy Committee.