For Immediate Release
A plain language summary of this statement is included below the full-length message.
Contacts:
Paolo del Vecchio, pdv1820@gmail.com
Vanessa Ramos, vanessa.ramos@disabilityrightsca.org
Harvey Rosenthal, harveyr@rightsandrecovery.org
Recovery Advocates Urge Congress to Oppose SAVE America Act and Protect Voting Rights
Advocates for mental health and substance use recovery are calling on Congress to reject the SAVE America Act and instead take action to protect and expand access to voting, particularly for people with disabilities.
“Voting is a fundamental right, and access to voting is a disability rights issue,” said Paolo del Vecchio, a former federal official and one of the leaders of a new campaign for recovery and rights advocates.
“People with disabilities deserve equal opportunity to participate in our democracy, yet too many already face significant barriers when trying to register and cast their ballots,” added Vanessa Ramos of Disability Rights California.
The advocates are strongly opposed to the SAVE America Act that will create new and unnecessary obstacles by requiring specific proof of citizenship and additional identification to register and vote.
“Voting is a fundamental right in a democracy, not a privilege reserved for a select few. The SAVE America Act is an unnecessary and dangerous step backward, echoing tactics used during the Jim Crow era to disenfranchise our most vulnerable communities,” said Eric Buehlmann, Deputy Director for Public Policy, National Disability Rights Network.
Research from the conservative Heritage Foundation confirms that voter fraud is exceedingly rare, making this legislation a solution in search of a problem. Rather than protecting our elections, this bill threatens to silence eligible voters and limit who can participate in our democracy.
“While these requirements may appear minor, they would have a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities, many of whom do not have easy access to documents such as passports, birth certificates, or current government-issued IDs,” said Arc Telos Saint Amour, executive director of Youth Move National.
Obtaining these documents can require time, money, transportation, and support navigating complex systems, resources that are not always readily available. For many, these added steps would become insurmountable barriers, effectively disenfranchising eligible voters.
Research has shown that many people with disabilities rely on alternatives such as mail-in voting or assistance from trusted individuals to participate in elections. Policies that restrict these options or require in-person processes would further limit access and undermine the right to vote.
“At a time when we should be working to expand civic participation, this legislation moves us in the wrong direction,” said Harvey Rosenthal, CEO of the Alliance for Rights and Recovery. “Congress must ensure that voting laws protect and strengthen access, not restrict it.”
The advocates are urging advocates, community members, and organizations nationwide to contact their representatives and oppose the SAVE America Act.
Plain Language Summary:
In this letter, mental health and substance use recovery advocates, along with disability rights organizations, are urging Congress to reject the SAVE America Act. Instead, they advocate for protecting and expanding access to the vote for people with disabilities. They stress that voting is a basic right and that access to voting is a disability rights issue.
People with disabilities already face many challenges when trying to register and vote.
The SAVE America Act would add new rules, including:
- Proof of Citizenship
- Stricter ID requirements
- Limits on vote‑by‑mail
These changes would make voting even harder. Many people with disabilities do not have easy access to documents like passports or birth certificates, not because they are ineligible to vote, but because getting these documents often requires money, transportation, time, and navigating inaccessible government systems or buildings. When voting becomes harder, people are less likely to vote, and these added steps could prevent eligible voters from voting.The advocates in this letter also point out that voter fraud is extremely rare and that current election systems already protect the integrity of our elections.
The SAVE America Act does not meaningfully improve security. It would, instead, create new barriers that would disproportionately harm people with disabilities. Many disabled voters rely on accessible options like vote‑by‑mail or help from trusted individuals. Policies that restrict these options would further limit access and prevent voters from being included in elections.
At a time when civic participation should be expanded, the SAVE America Act moves in the opposite direction. The advocates are calling on Congress to reject the bill and ensure that voting laws are fair, secure, and accessible to all eligible voters, without adding new barriers. They are also urging community members and organizations across the country to contact their representatives and oppose the SAVE America Act.
Signed:
Alaska Youth and Family Network
Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Ernesto Isaac Lara, lived experience researcher
Let’s Talk SAFETY, Inc./The PILLARS
Phyllis Vine, author
Mental Health Policy Roundtable
