By Shaina Cole | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Living in Colorado for nearly four years, I’ve grown to love its sweeping landscapes and spirited community. But the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, passed by the House in 2024 and under Senate review in 2025, alongside the REAL ID Act’s looming May 7, 2025, deadline, has exposed a personal struggle that highlights a broader issue.
The SAVE Act demands photo ID and proof of U.S. citizenship—like a REAL ID, passport, or birth certificate—to vote in federal elections.
I support its aim to ensure election integrity, but as a twice-divorced woman without my marriage certificates, I’m trapped. My Tennessee driver’s license, despite proving my name change in 2014, isn’t REAL ID-compliant, and even without the SAVE Act, REAL ID’s requirements pose a hurdle for me and others like me.
Election integrity is the foundation of our democracy. The SAVE Act tackles rare cases of non-citizen voting, ensuring only eligible citizens shape our nation’s future. Trust in our elections depends on robust safeguards like verified citizenship, and I believe this is worth the effort.
But for women whose names have changed through marriage, like me, the documentation needed for both the SAVE Act and REAL ID is a daunting barrier.
I lost my marriage certificates—one from Tennessee, one from Arkansas—after my divorces. These are critical to connect my birth certificate’s maiden name to the last name on my Tennessee driver’s license, renewed in 2021 before Tennessee fully implemented the REAL ID Act of 2005 (extended in 2011, 2013, 2017, 2020 and to 2025).
In 2014, I had to prove my name change to update my Tennessee license, but because it’s not REAL ID-compliant, lacking the star, it’s insufficient for federal purposes like air travel or SAVE Act voter registration.
I have my birth certificate, proving citizenship, and my Tennessee license, a photo ID. But the name mismatch prevents me from getting a Colorado REAL ID (driver’s license: $33; non-driver ID: $13) or passport card ($65), both requiring name change proof.
The SAVE Act would also demand these documents to pair my birth certificate with my license for voting. Duplicate marriage certificates cost $5–$15 in Tennessee and $10–$15 in Arkansas, but I’m financially strained, with no spare income for a trip to courthouses in either state. I don’t even recall my second marriage’s date, complicating online requests.
I take responsibility for losing these documents, but the $15–$30 for certificates, plus travel or research fees, is a heavy burden.
Even without the SAVE Act, the REAL ID Act’s enforcement on May 7, 2025, is a challenge. A REAL ID is required for domestic flights and federal facility access, and my non-compliant Tennessee license doesn’t cut it. Obtaining one demands those missing marriage certificates, affecting not just voting but everyday activities like travel.
In 2024, 6–10% of Americans lacked easy access to citizenship or name change documents, with women disproportionately impacted due to name changes. In 2025, about 150 million Americans lack REAL ID-compliant IDs, and while few share my exact issue, low-income women face the greatest obstacles.
The SAVE Act compounds this by tying voter registration to similar standards.
I’m willing to forgo voting and navigate REAL ID restrictions until I can afford those certificates, prioritizing election integrity and secure systems. I’m part of a very small minority of people with this issue. But the SAVE Act and REAL ID could better support citizens like me.
States could offer free or low-cost marriage certificate replacements for low-income residents, as some do for birth certificates. Colorado DMVs could accept alternative name change proofs, like affidavits or unexpired state licenses/IDs. These measures would uphold election integrity and REAL ID’s security without excluding eligible citizens.
My lost certificates are my mistake, but Colorado’s resilience motivates me to keep trying. As the Senate debates the SAVE Act in 2025 and the REAL ID deadline approaches, I urge lawmakers to address these barriers.
Election integrity and secure IDs are essential, but so is ensuring every citizen’s voice is heard—without chasing papers as fleeting as a mountain breeze.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.