Letter to the Editor: There is more to the SAVE Act than we are being told

Dear editor:

Our 2026 Burlington School senior trip was to New York City and then on to D.C. 

We went to the Senate gallery to watch Sen. John Barrasso speak about the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, which, if passed, would require all voters to present a photo ID when showing up to the ballot boxes. 

Barasso’s speech was pretty compelling, noting how nearly everything we do already requires a photo ID, and that this bill just protects the voice of the American people. He even gave a shout-out to us group of seniors who were peering over the edge of the gallery, mentioning how they had to show ID to board the planes that took them on this senior trip. 

The points he made were very interesting, commenting on the motives of the party against the bill. He called out direct examples of illegal immigrants who voted illegally and directly called out Democratic senators and their arguments against this bill. 

Curiously, nothing was spoken on the way this bill could impact women. He didn’t talk about how for women, a photo ID often does not have the same last name as a birth certificate, given that most women change their last name after marriage. 

Senator Barrasso didn’t speak about how any extra step it takes to vote can prevent a person from voting at all, which in turn slowly silences women’s voices. It was powerful to watch the proceedings of the government, gather one’s own information, and compare it to personal values, helped teach audience members about why and when they want to be involved in politics. 

This was my personal experience in touring the Capitol. Watching one of my Senators speak on the floor about a bill that will soon affect me as I start adulthood has been one of the most important events in my life. I learned a lot from that gallery balcony, not only about the Senate, but about my own interests and career goals.

Raygen Andrew 

Burlington