Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) raised concerns about the potential impact of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, on voters in Pennsylvania, highlighting what she called “unrealistic burdens” that could prevent many citizens from participating in federal elections this year. In a video statement, Scanlon emphasized that a significant portion of Pennsylvanians lack the forms of identification required under the legislation, warning that the bill could result in widespread voter disenfranchisement.
75% of Pennsylvanians don't have a Real ID, and 50% don't have a passport.
— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) February 11, 2026
If the SAVE America Act passes, they wouldn't be able to vote THIS November.
Any member of Congress from Pennsylvania who votes yes is voting against the interests of their constituents. pic.twitter.com/VZaJxyEsUA
Scanlon pointed to data indicating that roughly 75% of Pennsylvania residents do not have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license and that only about half of the state’s population holds a passport. She noted that if the SAVE Act passes, these residents “wouldn’t be able to vote this November,” adding that even commonly used forms of identification, such as student IDs or birth certificates for married women who have changed their name, would not meet the bill’s standards. “The bill places unrealistic burdens on citizens that will result in mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters—all to solve a problem that no one can prove exists,” she said.
The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Under the bill, states could not accept or process applications for federal election voter registration without such proof. Acceptable documents include identification compliant with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that verifies U.S. citizenship. The legislation also directs states to implement an alternative process for applicants who lack standard documents, establish ongoing programs to identify noncitizens in voter rolls, and remove them from official lists of eligible voters.
The bill further allows private citizens to take legal action against election officials who register applicants without the required documentation and establishes criminal penalties for officials who fail to comply.
Scanlon framed the bill as particularly problematic for Pennsylvania, where large numbers of residents would be unable to meet its identification requirements. “Most Americans would be unable to register or vote using their state-issued driver’s license. This is a big deal in Pennsylvania,” she said, underlining that current voter ID trends in the state could block access for millions of eligible voters.
She also warned that members of Congress representing Pennsylvania who support the SAVE Act would be acting against the interests of their constituents. “Any member of Congress from Pennsylvania who votes yes is voting against the interests of their constituents,” she said.
