Minnesota Secretary of State Warns Federal Voting Bill Could Block Married Women from Voting

(KNSI) — Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon is raising concerns about a federal voting bill that he says could create significant roadblocks for eligible voters, particularly married women.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) would require voters to show documentary proof of citizenship rather than simply attesting to their eligibility. While Simon acknowledges the proposal has “surface-level appeal,” he warns the legislation could have serious unintended consequences.

His primary concern centers on married women, who would need multiple documents to prove their identity. “Both a birth certificate and a marriage record,” Simon explained. “The birth certificate only gets you so far—that shows you were born under a particular name. But it doesn’t show or prove that you now have a different name. For that, you need a marriage record, and for those who have been married more than once, you’d need three documents.”

Simon pointed to Kansas as a cautionary tale. About 15 years ago, Kansas implemented a similar documentary proof requirement before a federal judge struck it down. During that time, more than 25,000 eligible voters were turned away from the polls because they couldn’t produce the required documents.

According to census data, an estimated 69 million American women have a different last name now than when they were born, primarily due to marriage. Of those, more than 20 million don’t have passports.

Simon also expressed concern about the bill’s impact on voter registration, particularly online registration. He worries the requirement to present physical documents could force voters to travel to county offices, potentially discouraging participation in a state that consistently ranks among the top three nationally for voter turnout. “I just fear it’s going to turn some people off, and they’re going to say, ‘Yeah, I’m eligible, but who has time to go to the county courthouse or to City Hall?'”

The bill has passed the U.S. House but faces bipartisan opposition in the Senate, with members of both parties troubled by its real-world implications. Simon believes it’s unlikely to pass this year or impact the 2026 election.

Minnesota maintains same-day and online voter registration, which has helped drive high turnout. Simon emphasized that while security is important, election laws must balance access with integrity.

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