Pontiac council votes unanimously to oppose ‘SAVE Act’ ballot proposal, citing likely voter disenfranchisement

Pontiac City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution opposing a proposed statewide ballot initiative commonly called the “SAVE Act,” saying the measure would create new documentary hurdles that could prevent eligible residents from voting.

The council’s resolution, moved by President Pro Tem Tim Carrington and supported by a bipartisan set of members, came after more than an hour of public comment in which community organizers and voting‑rights advocates told the council the proposal would require birth certificates, passports or similar documents to remain registered or to vote in some circumstances.

Why it matters: Speakers and council members said the burden of obtaining primary documents falls disproportionately on groups central to Pontiac elections — young Black adults, women who have changed names, people experiencing housing instability and residents returning from incarceration. “These proposals are being marketed as small technical fixes,” said Angela Davenport of Voting Access for All Coalition. “But in practice, they would create new barriers for people who already face obstacles to participating.”

Council members framed the vote as a preemptive stand against disenfranchisement. Councilman Chris Jackson said many long‑standing Pontiac families lack easily accessible original documents and that the cost of obtaining documents like passports or certified birth certificates could amount to a practical poll tax for low‑income residents. “This is not about ID at the polls,” Jackson said. “It’s about erecting new documentary walls that keep eligible voters away.”

What the resolution says: The measure adopted by the council does not change local voting procedures; it registers the city’s formal opposition to the ballot language and asks residents and regional lawmakers to oppose the initiative. The council filed the resolution after hearing repeated testimony from groups that have been organizing against the proposal, including Oakland Forward, Voting Access for All Coalition and others.

Procedure and outcome: The motion to adopt the resolution passed by roll call vote, seven yeas, no nays. The resolution’s passage signals Pontiac’s elected leadership will publicly oppose the ballot initiative and encourages the city to use communications channels to inform residents about the potential effects of the change.

What comes next: The ballot initiative will proceed through state processes to reach voters unless sponsors withdraw it; council members and advocates said they plan community education efforts in the coming months to explain how the proposal would work and how residents can preserve their right to vote.