Denver Clerk’s Panel Rails Against SAVE Act, Floats Non-Citizen Voting in Colorado
In a one-sided panel discussion hosted by Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez and his office on June 10, 2025, progressive activists and the League of Women Voters of Denver united in fierce opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a federal bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. The panel discussing From Suffrage to the SAVE Act: How Election Policy Impacts Women's Right to Vote at the Denver Public Library featured no voices in support of the SAVE Act or stricter election integrity measures, casting doubt on Lopez’s claim of a “bipartisan” approach to the panel. The panel’s rhetoric, filled with false democratic talking points, dismissed concerns about non-citizen voting while amplifying fears of voter suppression, with one panelist boldly advocating for non-citizens to vote in Colorado’s municipal elections—a proposal that would require altering the Colorado State Constitution.
The SAVE Act, which has passed the U.S. House and awaits Senate action, aims to ensure that only American citizens vote in federal elections. Supporters argue this protects the integrity of U.S. elections, a cornerstone of American democracy. Yet, all four panelists—representing the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA), The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, and the League of Women Voters of Denver—argued that the bill would disproportionately harm women, minorities, low-income voters, and other marginalized groups. They labeled it a “modern-day poll tax” and a “threat to democracy,” claiming it creates bureaucratic hurdles that silence eligible voters.
You can watch a replay of the entire June 10th panel here. (Facebook Account Required).
Dusty Gurule, President and CEO of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights went further, dismissing non-citizen voting as a “fallacy created just to justify conservative politicians pushing for electoral reform that suppresses voters.” She argued there’s “never been significant evidence that non-citizen voting poses a genuine threat to election security” and shockingly proposed that Colorado follow other states in allowing non-citizens to vote in municipal elections, stating, “Other states have enacted municipal voting rights for non-citizens, and Colorado should follow suit.” This stance aligns with democrats efforts in cities like San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Still, it directly violates Colorado’s Constitution Amendment 76, which explicitly restricts voting to U.S. citizens at all levels in Colorado.
Allowing illegal aliens to vote in Colorado would require a statewide election, a move likely to spark fierce opposition and national attention from the Trump Administration.
The panel’s dismissal of election integrity concerns raised eyebrows, especially given recent national debates over non-citizen voting. Jeanette Scotland, Director of Organization for the League of Women Voters of Denver cited a Brennan Center for Justice study, which claimed that only 30 suspected non-citizen votes occurred among the 23.5 million ballots cast in 2016, equating to 0.0001%. Yet, conservatives argue even small instances of fraud undermine public trust in elections, and the SAVE Act’s citizenship verification is a common-sense safeguard. Scotland also criticized the bill’s requirement for military personnel to prove U.S. birth, calling it an “insult” to those who “put their lives on the line.” However, the panel ignored arguments that such measures ensure the votes of service members and other citizens aren’t diluted by ineligible ballots.
Critics of the event noted its lack of balance in opinions on the panel. Lopez, who self-identified as a Democrat in his closing remarks, claimed his office is “bipartisan” in administering elections, yet the panel featured no conservative perspectives or SAVE Act supporters. This omission raises questions about whether the event was designed to rally progressive activists rather than foster open debate. Lopez himself emphasized his commitment to “equity and access,” but many argue that prioritizing access over verification risks undermining the sanctity of the vote.
The push for non-citizen voting, as advocated by Gurule, is a growing flashpoint across the nation. Conservatives view such proposals as a dangerous erosion of democratic principles, arguing that citizenship is the foundation of political representation. In Colorado, where Amendment 76 passed with 62.9% voter approval, any effort to allow non-citizen voting would face significant hurdles, requiring a two-thirds legislative vote or a citizen initiative to place the change in the state's constitution on the ballot.
Bianka Emerson, President of the Colorado Black Women for Political Action, called the SAVE Act “dog whistle politics” and “poppycock,” accusing it of invoking “far-right MAGA movements” to suppress Black and brown voters. Allison Friedman Phillips, Director of Policy and Advocacy for The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, highlighted logistical barriers, noting that 69 million women who have changed their names after marriage lack birth certificates that match their legal names. While these talking points resonate with progressive audiences, conservatives counter that the SAVE Act includes flexible provisions, such as accepting various forms of identification, to accommodate name changes while ensuring that only citizens are allowed to vote.
Lopez closed the event with a call to “keep our eye on the ball” amid “chaos” and “fear,” referencing anti-Trump and ICE protests outside the venue. He urged support for election officials across party lines, including Republican clerks in Weld and Mesa Counties. Still, his failure to include pro-SAVE Act voices undermined his claims of bipartisanship. The panel’s unified opposition to the SAVE Act and promotion of non-citizen voting left voters questioning whether Denver’s election officials prioritize access over integrity.
As the SAVE Act awaits Senate action, the Denver panel hosted by the Clerk and Recorder’s Office underscores a deepening divide over election integrity. Conservatives know that requiring proof of citizenship is a non-negotiable safeguard for American democracy, while progressive activists see it as a pretext for voter suppression.
With proposals like non-citizen voting gaining traction, the fight over who gets to vote—and how—is far from over.
