Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon officials and advocates say proposed ‘Save America Act’ would burden mail voting

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Oregon election officials and advocates held a press event at the Albina Library in Portland to oppose the proposed Save America Act, saying it would erect new documentation and data‑sharing requirements that would deter and disenfranchise many voters who now use mail ballots.

Wyden, who opened the event, said the bill is designed to curb vote‑by‑mail and described provisions that would force people to produce passports or other primary documents to register as an unacceptable barrier. "It would require people to produce a passport or a birth certificate or citizenship papers just to register to vote," he said, arguing the measures would create new costs and hurdles for ordinary voters.

At the same event, Oregon’s statewide election official (identified in the transcript as Tobias Read) described Oregon’s vote‑by‑mail system — paper ballots, public testing and post‑election audits — and urged that security and access are not mutually exclusive. He cited a review of roughly 60.9 million ballots in Oregon over about two decades that found 38 cases of unlawful votes, and he used that figure to argue the problem proponents of the bill describe is not a widespread, systemic threat.

Advocates from the Urban League of Portland, the Center for Women’s Leadership and For All Families emphasized the bill’s potential effects on specific groups. Jessica Mohalman of the Center for Women’s Leadership said many women change names after marriage or divorce, creating documentation mismatches that the bill’s requirements would magnify and could force people to miss work, drive long distances to county offices, or give up registering altogether. "For moms especially, these barriers will render them unable to participate in the voting process at all," she said.

Candace Williams, executive director of For All Families, said the Save America Act "hurts women, it hurts families, and it hurts kids," and urged constituents to contact lawmakers.

Speakers also pointed to examples from other states and practical steps voters and officials can take if the law were enacted or if postal delays occur: drop ballots at county drop boxes, mail ballots at least a week early, request hand‑post service at post office counters, and contact county clerks to check registration and address information. Advocates said they already operate voter‑protection efforts — including legal "drop squads" and ID‑assistance programs for houseless people and elders — but said those programs would need more funding to scale up if new documentation rules were imposed.

During a short question‑and‑answer session, a reporter asked how officials would handle a worst‑case scenario before a primary. Officials emphasized readiness and practical steps — "drop your ballot in a county dropbox" and work with county clerks — while warning that the added administrative burden could be costly and would require sustained coordination between community groups and election offices.

The event closed with organizers urging voters to check registration status, use secure ballot drop sites, and contact election offices with questions. No formal vote or legislative action occurred at the event; it was a public briefing and call to advocacy.

Ending: Organizers said they will continue outreach and preparation and asked residents to contact their senators to oppose the measure; the briefing ended with brief closing remarks and thanks.