Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defends vote in favor of SAVE Act

Southwest Washington’s Marie Gluesenkamp Perez was one of just four Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE Act — a controversial bill that would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.

Critics say the act could disenfranchise millions, especially married women, who often don’t have proof of citizenship readily available.

On Thursday, Perez released a statement regarding her vote.

“I do not support noncitizens voting in American elections — and that’s common sense to folks in Southwest Washington,” she said. “Voting in our nation’s elections is a sacred right belonging only to American citizens, and my vote for the SAVE Act reflects that principle.”

She said she believes the SAVE Act stands no chance of passage in the Senate due to the filibuster, “as well as several deeply flawed provisions.”

She encourages House leadership to instead consider bipartisan legislation that can pass both chambers of Congress, she said.

Alexis Weisend: 360-735-4536; [email protected]; twitter.com/weisend_alexis