As Humboldt County’s Clerk, Recorder, & Registrar of Voters, I’m inspired by the civic spirit of our residents and local organizations. Every election season reminds me of the three pillars that guide our work: transparency, accessibility and efficiency — each essential to a trustworthy democratic process.

Yet the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act threatens to undo much of what we’ve worked so hard to build. This bill would require every voter registering or updating registration to provide documentary proof of citizenship in person. While that might sound reasonable, we already have effective mechanisms in place that ensure only citizens vote — and the evidence shows they work. A 2024 Georgia audit, for example, found that of 8.2 million registered voters, only 20 were noncitizens (just 0.00024% of the roll); all were investigated, and only nine had ever cast a ballot.

A Far-Reaching Toll on Our Neighbors

If passed, the SAVE Act would create needless barriers for many legitimate voters:

  • Rural residents could face long drives to the elections office, possibly multiple times if documents are incomplete.
  • Older adults may lack valid passports or birth certificates.
  • Military and overseas voters cannot simply “pop in” from abroad; their vote-by-mail or online options would be severely limited.
  • People who change their name (such as married women) would need extra documentation just to prove they are who they say they are.

Each of these groups represents fully eligible, law-abiding neighbors who risk losing their voice over a requirement aimed at a nearly nonexistent problem.

Straining Local Resources

With the 2024 election cycle alone, Humboldt County processed over 20,000 voter-initiated registration transactions. Making each one an in-person visit would demand extra staff, extra office space, and higher administrative costs—all unfunded by the federal government. Instead of supporting roads, social work, or law enforcement, the county’s limited resources would go toward policing a statistically negligible issue.

This also highlights a longstanding challenge: counties like Humboldt foot nearly every expense for elections, even when the ballot includes state and federal candidates. The SAVE Act adds yet another unfunded mandate, further stretching our local budget.

Our Current Safeguards Work

We already confirm voter eligibility through federal and state database checks, and there are steep penalties for any noncitizen who registers—whether intentional or accidental. A Brennan Center for Justice analysis of 23.5 million votes cast in the 2016 election revealed just 30 suspected incidents of noncitizen voting — around 0.0001%. These facts show that noncitizen voting is nearly nonexistent, while our elections remain transparent, accessible, and efficient.

A Call for Collaboration and Funding

I stepped into this role because I believe every eligible citizen deserves an equal opportunity to vote. The SAVE Act runs counter to that principle. Rather than piling another requirement on local offices, Congress should collaborate with election officials—and fund any new obligations so they don’t undercut voter access. If the federal government truly wants more secure elections, it should help us invest in technology, staff, and facilities—rather than forcing counties to shoulder all the costs alone.

Preserving Access for Humboldt

I urge our community to stand against the SAVE Act. Safeguarding elections is crucial, but not at the expense of a transparent, accessible, and efficient system that already works. By honoring these values, we uphold the spirit of democracy that unites our county. Let’s keep Humboldt’s elections a reflection of our dedication to participation and good governance — one that welcomes every eligible voter’s voice.

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Juan Pablo Cervantes is Humboldt County’s Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters.