The New Suffragettes.

What seems to be the problem besides the need to dress up as the Handmaiden Tales? According to the very reliable NPR (OK, stop laughing):

The legislation, known as the SAVE Act, looks to make sweeping reforms on voter registration. It was introduced in response to fears about voter fraud, though research has consistently showed that such incidents are exceedingly rare and not a significant factor in American elections.

Among the most notable changes outlined in the bill is the requirement to prove U.S. citizenship before registering to vote. Acceptable documents will include a birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization paperwork and certain versions of the Real ID that indicate citizenship.

But for as many as 69 million American women who have taken on their spouse's name, their birth certificates no longer match the names they use today, according to an analysis by the progressive Center for American Progress. Meanwhile, more than half of all Americans do not have a passport, according to a 2023 YouGov survey.

Will the SAVE Act make it harder for married women to vote? We ask legal experts : NPR

So I went to the source as I always try to do: I found the text of H.R.22 - SAVE Act and read it. Right out of the bat, you see this:

“(b) Documentary proof of United States citizenship.—As used in this Act, the term ‘documentary proof of United States citizenship’ means, with respect to an applicant for voter registration, any of the following:

“(1) A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States.

Starting next May, you must have some sort of card complying with REAL ID. This thing is not new and probably you already have it. Here is the thing: A woman who has her married name in the Driver’s License with REAL ID does not need to show up to vote with the birth certificate, nor is asked as only form of ID.

If you have a DL or an ID card with the star on it and it has your married name, you will not have issues. There are even ID cards for those who did not or cannot comply with the REAL ID requirements.

I had to present my certificate of naturalization to update my license to REAL ID with the absolute paranoia of making sure it did not get lost. Not only it is a bitch to get a replacement, but the government demands a fee of $555 for it¹. The cost of a copy of a birth certificate in Tennessee? $15.

And, of course, there are several others means of valid identification stated in the bill but also ignored by the screamers and wailers.

I am sure that those bitching and moaning about voter suppression against women probably have a DL compliant with the SAVE Act, but hating is easier than thinking.

PS: I do agree that the ladies should be buying firearms for their protection.

1. And just in case I need to demonstrate proof of citizenship in the future, I got a Passport Card for $65 and secured my Naturalization papers in the depths of my safe.