Democrats are denouncing the legislation as a voter suppression measure, saying it would disenfranchise millions of married women.
After Donald Trump's victory in last year's presidential election, several MAGA influencers cheered the prospect of him trampling on women's rights. And Republican lawmakers have acted on that ethos with startling speed.
Democratic women sounded the alarm Thursday following the House's passage of the so-called SAVE Act, which would require all states to obtain proof of citizenship from people registering to vote, as well as mandate that states have a program to remove undocumented immigrants from existing voter rolls and allow Americans to sue officials who don't follow the proof-of-citizenship requirements. Voting rights activists have condemned the measure as a voter suppression bill, saying it requires documents that members of marginalized groups, particularly nonwhite people, disproportionately lack.
And critics have also said the law runs the risk of disenfranchising women who marry and then change their last name.
"The House just passed the Republican voter suppression measure that threatens voting access for millions of Americans, including 69 million women whose married names don't match their birth certificates," Hillary Clinton noted on X.
"Make sure your senators know you expect them to stand against it," she wrote.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., posted a similar message, warning that the legislation risks disenfranchising millions of women.
"This bill would make registering to vote extremely difficult for millions of women who have changed their name, including over 2 million Ohioans.
"It's a propaganda bill that creates problems instead of solving them. #HellNo."
Conservatives have essentially tried to downplay the impact of the changes if the law is enacted. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, for example, had an online exchange with Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., in which he noted that several documents would be allowed as proof of citizenship -- seemingly ignoring that requiring such a document would, in itself, constitute an added barrier for many voters.
And Balint checked Lee on that point.
"[Y]ou can show all the 'fact' sheets you want, but this is about practical implications," she wrote. "If you changed your name, you will not be able to vote unless you jump through excessive hoops that require time, money, and travel if you live in a rural area."
Fox News host Martha MacCallum also downplayed the suppressive effects of the legislation during an interview with Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., saying: "I changed stuff when I got married; it's not that hard to do that."
As many have noted, the legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where it's likely to be filibustered if it's ever teed up for a vote. But the fact this passed in the House shows just how committed Republicans are to misogynistic gender hierarchy and the prospect of tipping elections in their favor.