Women fought for the right to vote.

But today new laws could impact how that right is exercised.

This week on inspire, we break down the SAVE Act and what it means for you.

Coming up on Inspire.

Inspire is sponsored by the Raymond C and Marguerite Gibson Foundation, and by the estate of Ray and Anne Goldsmith.

Hello and welcome to inspire.

It's always a treat to hang out with my beautiful inspire sisters, Betty Lou Pardue and Amy Kelly.

And we're so glad to hang out with you as well.

The right to vote is fundamental, but access isn't always equal.

Your vote is your voice.

But what happens when I do?

Requirements become barriers to using it.

From confusion to clarity, we're helping voters understand what matters most.

As we talk with our guest, Doctor Glenda Overstreet Vaughn, president for the League of Women Voters.

And that's in Topeka and Shawnee County, and Paul Post, vice president for the League of Women Voters.

And we thank you both for being here.

Cindy Lash from the league will be joining us a little bit later on.

But I got to tell you, Doctor Overstreet, it seems like we are always fighting something when it comes to voting.

Absolutely.

I know we're going to get on the local level, but let's start by explaining what is the SAVE Act.

Thank you so much.

The SAVE Act is to safeguard American voter eligibility.

And it's a little bit misleading by the title, because so many people believe it's not truly safeguarded.

But I'm going to let, I'm going to let Paul share some information about that, and then I'll talk about how that's different than what we are currently experiencing.

So, Paul, if you want to talk about the specific elements of that, right.

The Save act is presently in Congress.

It passed the House of Representatives at least twice.

It's in front of the Senate now.

And the question is whether it will pass there with the required 60 votes for a filibuster.

But the Save act really is upending the National Voter Registration Act that went into effect in the 90s.

The idea behind the National Voter Registration Act was to encourage people to vote, and it actually prohibited states from requiring people to show up or come up with some form of ID they basically certified that they were citizens.

The question about citizenship, you have to be a citizen to vote.

That's already the law.

That's been the law forever.

And essentially what is happening now is that people show up and they provide some sort of an identification to show who they are, and they certify that they're citizens.

They say the act would turn that on its head and require voters when they register to come in with some sort of specific document to prove that they're citizens, primarily a passport or a birth certificate or some other document to prove that they're citizens.

Well, a lot of us don't have passports, and I think I could dig around and find a birth certificate.

Why are we putting up barriers to people being able to vote instead of lowering them so more people can be included in the process?

That's exactly the point that we talk about.

These are not truly safeguards.

On, one side, this particular act indicates that, is pushing and promoting that this particular act is for election integrity.

But there have been so many facts.

There's been a lot of findings that there's truly not been a lot of, voter fraud, to actually substantiate, acts such as this.

And, so that election integrity really doesn't have a lot of, of credence, if it will, or credibility.

One of the things, one of the elements that's so different with this is that it has substantially harsher penalties for election officials, election officials who are who receive maybe information and they provide allow voters to come in and to, register to vote, maybe without looking at having the, ID, then, an individual can actually have the right to, to bring forth a case against them, a legal case against them.

Those are the things that's different from in this particular issue.

Now, it doesn't say that, the, the if, for instance, if the government, pulls your, your information from a voter roll indicating that maybe you might not be a, citizen and, and they pull your name from that voter roll, but they did it inadvertently and inaccurately.

There's nothing in this particular act that would, would make them accountable for that action, that erroneous action.

So we have to look at, the fact that there's been an opportunity they put in here, an opportunity for there to be civil or criminal action on behalf of individuals, but not on on behalf of the government in their erroneous activity.

Oh my goodness.

So these are some of the things that really make this a very, very, important act for us to look at and to really be mindful of and to look at all of the things that, it's called a private right of action that an individual can take against another person.

Also, what it does, it sets up, an opportunity for individuals who are ready and willing to work as election officials to not do so because someone I mean, you can just imagine the fear that someone would have being put in that position.

Pressure.

That is another form of voter suppression.

Right.

And so, these are some of the things that, you know, we're trying to get out in the community to educate people so that they know what this is all about, because that not being an informed voter actually opens them up, to not allowing the government to be accountable for some of the things that they put together in acts such as this.

But there are more, more things.

I mean, I understand what you're saying in terms of there's not accountability and, and, it opens up election officials to liability possibility without the government of, having accountability.

But from for very practical, practical terms and I'll be honest, this act scares the heck out of me.

And very practical terms, very law abiding, honest American citizens from the beginning may be excluded from voting simply based on the fact that she got married.

Right.

And that bothers me tremendously.

Because if my I, if I read this correctly, that, women, your id that you present must agree with your birth certificate.

Well, if you married and changed your name, right, you haven't changed your birth certificate.

Got divorced or you got divorced or something like that.

And there's I understand there's, like, 69 million women.

I think my number has some that that could impact.

Absolutely.

Can you speak to that?

It is 69 million women that could be impacted by that.

Oh, absolutely.

That is what a number of organizations that monitor that particular activity indicate.

And, in all fairness, it's also not only that they would be disenfranchized through that, but look at the time and commitment that it takes and cost and cost sources for for individuals to be able to go through.

I mean, I take, just one particular case in point, as a caregiver, for my mother and going in and trying to get a birth certificate.

She is born she was born in Oklahoma.

That's been well over a year, year and a half.

I have yet to get that birth certificate like they have the they have the fees, but I have yet to receive their birth certificate.

These are the things that women really want to run against.

And I understand that there are some of our legislators who feel like this is just some of those things that we have to balance out, but truly, they don't understand.

They don't understand the real hardship that women face in this.

And then it also really sets up some real significant, issues within marriages, because there are marriages that, you know, I mean, women are going to start saying, well, I'm not going to change my, you know, I'm just not going to do this.

You know, my vote is important.

My voice is important.

And so, you know, we need to look at how this has an impact not only in in voting but also in our respective homes and our respective lifestyles.

I tell you, we were going to get into the local information here in just a little bit.

But I do know that we're going to have Cindy Lash coming in just a minute.

And Danielle well Paul, we want to thank you for your insight.

We could talk so long about this because there's so many intricacies that we don't understand and we're just scratching the surface.

So thank you for joining us on the first segment.

Coming up, we'll learn more about protecting our right to vote in the next segment of inspire.

Please stay with us.

A new voting law could change everything we know about how the political system works.

We continue our discussion with Doctor Glenda Overstreet, Vaughn, president of the League of Women Voters here in Topeka in Shawnee County.

And also joining us for this segment, we have Cindy Lash, who is the secretary for the league.

Thank you, Cynthia.

Doctor Ron, for being here.

Thank you.

Okay, so in our last segment, we talked a little bit about how the Save act impacted could impact women and, what the voter rolls could look like.

Well, how could the Save act impact our rural communities?

Cindy, could you address it?

Yes, the SAVE Act, because it would require any time you changed your voter registration or if you were a new voter, you would have to go to the county courthouse or wherever your county election office is.

You would have to go there and present your proof of citizenship papers.

So if you're in a rural county, you might have to drive from one corner to the net, not only just collect up your papers, but you've got to get there.

You might have to get there during business hours.

That are not convenient for you.

So for rural voters, it's just that much harder because everything is more distant.

And it's crazy.

You know, and you just think about, again what we've all gone through.

We've talked about nationally, locally, not just rural, but locally.

You know, in the bigger cities or what how can we navigate what do we even know?

Because people make all the effort to get to the poll and then they can't vote.

Yeah.

So what do we need to know with respect to the rural communities?

Also keep in mind, too, that they have the option to register online.

They have the option to register online, but they still are faced with obstacles under this act.

To have to go in, as Cindy has indicated, physically and to the Election Office to show that I did.

And, and there was an organization that had estimated, based upon their findings that that would take anywhere from four and a half to eight hours drive into an election office.

Okay.

So, you know, this is also what can be summed up as voter suppression.

It just makes it much harder for a potential voter to be able to have that access.

Right.

And when you think of all the years that people have tried, you know, fought and died for the right to vote and then continuing to make it so difficult, and some people simply give up and again, voter suppression.

But what can we do?

Absolutely.

One of the things that we're doing now is we're getting the information out.

It is very important to educate potential voters about bills such as this, about acts such as this, so that people are informed.

Informed voters are the highest level of voters because of the fact that they can help to inform and educate others.

Okay.

When you're when you vote uninformed, you kind of give up your right to really be able to be an active voter that can provide you with the ability to to make change and to to strengthen democracy.

You actually erode democracy when you vote without being informed.

So getting out there, getting that information out there, we provide information, to our community, in brochures.

We put out information on various issues that are out there.

We partner with our collaborative partners, something worked with a number of organizations that, we group together to make sure that we can reach out into the community, tabling events, and we're in the state House talking to legislators, you know, trying to encourage them to not lead acts such as this and bills, legislative bills and that type of thing that actually hit upon, voter suppression so that they don't move those bills.

So I'll go ahead.

I was going to say we are also out at the library at the farmer's market there.

We are at Washburn and during orientation talking to students about getting registered to vote.

We are at food banks helping people get registered to vote or just check their registration.

So and we are not the only group that does that.

There are other local groups that do the same kinds of things.

A lot of people feel disenfranchized from the system as it is.

To me, this is another push in that direction because you have a lot of young people who are like, why am I voting?

My vote doesn't count.

And this to me, just adds more and more fuel to that fire.

What can we do to get young people excited about voting?

And if this bill does happen to become a law?

Get them to take the extra steps.

And I pray to God it doesn't.

But if it does, what can we do to help people be encouraged?

Yes, it's worth it to actually do this and make your voice matter.

I think sharing with them the history because, you know, we've been here before.

I mean, you know, we have to help them understand.

We were, you know, there was a time when people thought died, you know, for, trying to vote.

We understood.

We understood that there were poll taxes, you know, and so we once we helped educate them that then they understand that this is not an obstacle.

We can't get over, that we can continue to push.

We can continue to drive, because that makes people feel a little bit more like there's hope, there's an opportunity for.

We don't want them to lose that voice when they lose that voice, you know, we want them to continue to focus on when you lose your voice, you lose your existence.

And we don't want that to happen.

Absolutely.

So I know there's some dates coming up because it's a date until you get a chance to register and then maybe do a party affiliation if you want to make that declaration.

The, in Kansas, we have the, primaries in August, like August.

So like that and then the generally what what are the dates coming up that our viewers need to know?

So they make sure that they're registered and their registrations are accurate.

If they want to change their, their, party affiliation, they have to do that by noon on June 1st.

The same day that candidates have to file by.

And that was done so that people didn't wait and see who filed and then change their affiliation.

Interesting.

So that's by June 1st.

That's right.

Jay, first.

But the other thing, the other two other important dates to note are July 14th for the primary, because that's if you are not registered.

That is the last day you can register to vote in the primary.

Or if you're already registered, it's the last day you can change.

Your address if you've moved.

Otherwise, you end up filing a provisional ballot.

So not not your party affiliation, because that was June 1st.

And similarly, there's, there's a date, three weeks before the general election, which is the last date you can register to vote.

If you didn't bother with the primary but want to register for the general.

Right.

How can we as citizens prepare ourselves to make an intelligent vote and intelligent decision?

What we want to see happen.

Cindy.

I think you really need to, attend things like voter forums, watch the debates.

KTWU does a great job about having candidate debates.

There's an org.

There's a website called Vote411 and that has, questionnaires that go out to all the candidates and hopefully they respond and you can read their written responses to the questions.

Or if they don't respond to that, might in help inform your vote.

Let's see.

What am I forgetting?

I know, also to know what's on the ballot.

Be prepared.

Know what's on their ballot.

So many times.

I bet you if we took a poll, there would be individuals that would not know what's on the ballot.

How do we find that out?

You can.

You can go to the, the Shawnee County election office, online and find out about it.

You can go to the secretary of state online, find out about it.

They will provide you with information.

You can also have that information provided to you.

You can pick up that information.

Know what's on the ballot?

Locate your ballot.

Your your, your polling place.

Check that ballot.

You know, check your registration online.

I went, check that my registration, it took me up less than two minutes to check it by putting in your name, your address.

The, the state, and your zip code.

That comes up and it gives you a check saying yes.

You registered.

If you're not, then they provide you with some information on how you can get registered.

Those are the kind of things that you can do.

It is just like anything.

We always encourage people to put together a voting plan.

It's like anything else to get a voting plan together.

And that should be true regardless of what county you in.

Absolutely, absolutely.

You know, Trigo County or something.

Yes.

They should be able to go online and you can check it.

Absolutely.

Excellent.

Yes.

Tell us about Mail-In voting.

How does the Save act affect that?

The Save act actually discourages, it's trying to eliminate mail in voting.

Really?

Yes.

It's trying to eliminate any type of remote voting.

And so that would it also is trying to to eliminate, the various places right now we have vote.org.

We have voter collaborative.

We have all a lot of different online voting, sites that you can go to and register.

And we have a local bill that, that had been introduced that was actually encouraging, only a particular, slot.

Only particular sites that have the.gov to be actively, to be active, valid voting, registration sites.

That sets up a kind of a monopoly.

And so, you know, those are the types of things we have to be mindful of because it stops people from getting that access.

Right now, you can go to I mean, there's a lot of, colleges and universities that have sites that you can go on the register, you know.

So one very important thing that is a change that starts this year is that if you have if you send in a ballot, you no longer have a three day grace period for your if you're.

It used to be that if you're as long as your ballot was postmarked by election Day, there was a three day grace period for it to arrive at the election office to be counted, and the legislature has changed that.

So if it is not, if that ballot is not in the office by, by the end of the election day, that will not be counted.

So people need to move very quickly if they get a if they request a mail in ballot, fill it out quickly.

Send it back quickly.

Okay.

Cindy Lash and Doctor Vaughn, I tell you what, this is, this is crazy.

Yeah.

Okay, we'll be back.

We.

We are back.

And, ladies, we have a lot to discuss.

We're just scratching the surface on this with Doctor Glenda Overstreet.

Vaughn, Paul Post, and Cindy Lash from the Topeka and Shawnee County League of Women Voters.

So much that I want to know and find out about, first of all, this.

This is not a bill that's been passed, am I correct, Paul?

That's right.

It's in the Senate right now.

They're debating it.

Whether it passes or not is anybody's guess.

But, they're they'd have to overcome the filibuster hurdle of 60 votes.

And I don't think that will happen, but who knows?

So what do we need to do to put the kibosh on it?

Well, we need to talk to.

Well, you could, call your senators.

Call your, It's in the Senate.

So call the two Kansas senators, but also, your representative and say this is not a good bill.

And it needs to be rethought.

And redone and looked at over again.

And do we know how they think so far about it?

Well, the Republican convention or the Republican representatives have voted for it.

A lone Democrat has voted against it of our Kansas delegation.

Okay.

So during, break, we found out that Paul, you actually are an election worker.

Not only are you vice president of the League of Women Voters, attorney at law, and you are also, an election worker.

Can you speak to that?

I am, I've been an election worker since 2018 and, been involved in every election since that time.

It's a long day, but it's, a very fulfilling.

And, these are your friends and your neighbors who are taking your, your vote, who are helping you get signed in and making sure your vote counts.

This isn't some far away, election official or county commissioner or county election commissioner.

And his staff are very, responsible.

Yes.

They have a sign up in every voting place.

It says never deny a voter the right to vote.

And so if there's some problem, we take care of that with a provisional ballot.

But we want to make sure that everybody who's there can vote.

But in doing that, we also make sure that their credentials are correct.

We checked them in properly.

Look at their ID and make sure that everything is ready to go so that they can cast a ballot.

And I love it that we have a gentleman in with the League of Women Voters, which is fabulous.

But we will put this on.

And that speaks highly, though, because it's it's not just a female thing, it's everybody.

Yeah.

What we say is this, organization of women and men who love those women.

Yeah.

There you go.

Okay.

I love that.

But it is so important to to realize that.

Hey, we're not trying to cheat anybody else.

We don't have the fraud.

Yes, this this is something that we all need to take so seriously.

Cindy, can you expand on any.

Well, I, I before I do that, I want to put a plug in real quick.

Okay.

April 11th at the library from 11 to 1, the Topeka Voter Collaborative, which is a group that we work with, also is hosting, an event to just provide information to people, you know, how do you check your registration, how do you do whatever?

So, so anybody can drop by during that time and learn more?

Now I forgot what the question was.

So it's kind of well, you know, just the fact that we all need to be involved and that we all need to tell our neighbors and to just make sure that we all know what the heck we're doing.

Yes, yes.

And it's, it can be hard.

It can be hard to get information about candidates, but, you know, go to their websites, talk to your friends, read whatever you can, because information is out there.

It's just sometimes hard to find.

So unfortunately, we can keep talking about this.

I'm feeling hopeful and scared all at the same.

Right.

But that is all the time that we do have for today, and we want to thank our friends for the League of Women Voters, for, being with us today.

Doctor Glenda Overstreet-Bond Cindy Lash and Paul Post.

As a reminder, you can watch this program again at watch.ktwu.org.

And if you're so inspired to learn more, which we hope you are about our guests, and find out what's coming up on future shows, and to get access to additional content, be sure to visit our website at ktwu.org/inspire Inspiring women, inspiring everyone to be informed, be ready and be heard at the polls.

Inspiring you on KTWU.

Thank you for watching.

Inspire is sponsored by the Raymond C and Marguerite Gibson Foundation and by the estate of Ray and Anne Goldsmith.