Kansas's SAVE Act Experiment: A Cautionary Tale for National Voter Laws

Kansas's Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) Act, introduced in 2011, required voters to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote. This made Kansas one of only two states with such a strict requirement.

The ACLU sued Kansas, arguing that the law created chaos and confusion, leading to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters. Evidence presented in court showed that tens of thousands of Kansans were blocked or suspended from registering.

Despite claims of widespread voter fraud, Kansas presented evidence of only 39 noncitizens who had registered to vote over two decades. A federal court ultimately struck down the law, and the state was ordered to pay $1.9 million in legal fees.

This case highlights the potential consequences of strict voter ID laws and the importance of protecting voting rights. The impact of such laws extends to first-time voters, the elderly, and individuals with limited resources.

It required voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.

At least 31,000 people were barred from registering to vote.

A federal court ruled the law unconstitutional, and the state had to pay legal fees.

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