Editor, News-Register:

Hello, my name is Donald Shriner. I am a registered republican; The SAVE ACT is not an acceptable piece of legislation.

Requiring proof of citizenship in the manner that is articulated in the bill would be very cumbersome and costly for the citizens of the state of West Virginia.

More than 146 million American citizens do not have a valid passport. Obtaining a passport can be a lengthy and costly process, and many people who lack the time and money to get one would be deterred from voting.

In New York and California, over 70% of citizens have passports.

In West Virginia and Mississippi, barely 20% of citizens have passports. Surely you can see how this would be extremely problematic for voter turnout on both sides of the aisle.

Additionally, only one in five Americans making less than $50,000 have a valid passport.

Another giant problem in the bill’s language is the problems and strains it will cause someone who changed their name (for example, by way of marriage). I’m not sure how you could say you want to promote marriage and healthy families and vote for a bill that essentially penalizes you for doing so.

As many as 69 million people that have taken their spouse’s name at marriage do not have a birth certificate with their legal name. New requirements under the SAVE Act may force voters to use alternative forms of identification, such as a passport (again problematic) in the absence of an accurate birth certificate.

Finally, the bill would also affect those in the military in addition to tribal voters, and rural voters who live far from polling locations and rely on online and mail-in voter registration and voting.

The citizens of West Virginia cannot afford this bill, plain and simple.

Please call, email and write our West Virginia senators Jim Justice and Shelly Moore Capito to tell them this legislation is not acceptable for West Virginia.

Donald Shriner

Wheeling