Why does the SAVE Act want to see a copy of your birth certificate?

A proposed voting bill, the SAVE Act, could require proof of citizenship like a birth certificate. Here's how to get one.

President Donald Trump is pushing Congress to pass a sweeping election‑security bill that would require proof of citizenship to vote — raising new questions for Americans who don’t have easy access to documents like birth certificates.

If passed into law, the SAVE Act , or Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would require people registering to vote in a federal election to present documentary proof that they are U.S. citizens, such as a passport or a birth certificate. The documents must be presented in person.

Critics and voting rights advocates say the bill could disenfranchise millions of Americans, including approximately 69 million married women who have taken their husband's name and do not have a birth certificate matching their legal name.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that concerns regarding the bill making it harder for married women to vote have "zero validity," though she acknowledged the legislation creates extra steps for those who have changed their names.

With the SAVE Act proposing new proof‑of‑citizenship requirements, here’s how to get a certified copy of your birth certificate if you need one.