Rep. Vasquez Votes to Protect American Citizens’ Voting Rights from Government Overreach

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On February 11, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) released this statement following his vote to protect American citizens’ voting rights:

“Let’s be clear about what this is — an attempt to disenfranchise eligible American voters and prevent them from casting a ballot. It’s an attack on the free and fair elections that underpin our democracy. The last thing New Mexicans want is more red tape and the continued rollback of their American rights.”

“The regulations proposed in this bill would disproportionately impact Native voters whose IDs would no longer be accepted, married women who have had a name change on their ID, veterans whose military paperwork does not include proof of citizenship, and folks living in rural areas. Even further, it sells out Americans’ private information by giving the Department of Homeland Security access to state voter rolls and voters’ personal data — another very concerning example of federal overreach by this Administration.”

The SAVE America Act, which has garnered opposition from both sides of the aisle, would:

• Require newly eligible voters and those who need to update their voter registration to provide proof of their citizenship with a passport, military ID submitted with service records showing place of birth, or in some cases, a birth certificate.
  • Half of Americans, more than 140 million citizens, do not have a valid passport — which typically costs $165 and takes weeks to obtain.
  • As many as 69 million women who have taken their spouse’s name do not have a birth certificate matching their legal name.
• Require rural and Tribal voters who vote by mail to register in person with one of the above documents, in some cases forcing them to travel up to seven hours round trip in order to be eligible to cast a ballot.
• Require veterans with a valid military ID to also provide proof of citizenship (with a passport, birth certificate, or service records) to update their voter registration.

The updated version of the bill also includes restrictive voter ID requirements which prevent states from accepting valid Tribal IDs and student IDs (even if they are from a state university). Lastly, the bill also includes provisions forcing states to share voters’ personal information with the Department of Homeland Security on a regular basis. 

Rep. Vasquez has long been a strong advocate for protecting the rights of all eligible voters in New Mexico. 

• He voted against the original SAVE Act in 2024 and again in 2025, which held some of the same restrictive provisions.
• He has pushed for additional funding to improve election security, help states administer safe and fair elections, and protect eligible voters and election volunteers.
• He cosponsored the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would strengthen the Voting Rights Act by addressing state efforts to disenfranchise voters and protecting access to the ballot box. 

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