Alabama Reps Oppose SAVE Act Amid Church ID Poll

In a striking moment at a Black church in Alabama, U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, a Democrat from Mobile, recently asked congregation members how many did not have a driver's license. No hands went up, an unscripted response that quickly spread online and highlighted ongoing debates over voter identification requirements.

The incident occurred during a town hall event as Figures discussed opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, which seeks to mandate proof of citizenship for registering in federal elections. Figures and fellow Alabama Democrat Representative Terri Sewell addressed the House floor on Thursday, arguing that the legislation could disenfranchise eligible voters who lack readily available documentation to verify citizenship. Figures posed the question to his audience, expecting it to illustrate potential hardships, but the silence instead underscored that many in the room already possessed basic identification.

The SAVE Act, introduced to enhance election security by ensuring only U.S. citizens participate in federal voting, has drawn sharp divisions. Proponents view it as a straightforward measure to maintain accurate voter...