Advocacy Update - February 2026
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*Trigger warning* – Discussion of potentially traumatic topics including
survivors, immigration, and lack reproductive healthcare.
S.A.V.E. America Act
You may recall a similar sounding bill being voted on in April 2025 that did not pass the Senate. This is a new (similar) more restrictive proposal. Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed it nearly on party lines. The bill is now waiting for a vote in the Senate. If passed, the President has said he will sign it. The bill would require photo identification AND proof of citizenship to register to vote or change your registration - this article has a good summary of the additional barriers). People who have changed their name through marriage or for safety reasons such as domestic violence or trafficking, as well as trans individuals, may face documentation barriers. These measures disproportionately affect people of color and low-income individuals who already face barriers to obtaining required ID.
How is this bill a poll tax?
This bill would likely be the equivalent of a poll tax (a violation of the 24th Amendment). The 24th amendment made voting more accessible by eliminating poll taxes, which had been used to keep people of color from voting by creating financial barriers. Passports, REAL ID’s, and driver’s licenses all cost money to obtain - (not to mention the need for access to transportation, time off, and having all the documentation needed to get those forms of identification). Requiring proof of citizenship + the cost associated with any document that would do so = a poll tax.
What can you do?
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Call your senators!
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Senator John Fetterman: 202-224-4254
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Senator Dave McCormick: 202-224-6324
Tip: Leaving a voicemail counts! If you speak with a staff member, you can ask them to record or “count” your call - offices track how many constituents contact them about an issue.
Sample Script: “Hi, my name is [your name], and I’m calling from [your city]. I’m urging Senator [Fetterman / McCormick] to take action to protect voting access by voting NO on the SAVE Act.”
If you would be personally impacted by this legislation, sharing your story can be especially meaningful.
Remember, you can call more than once! Keep up the pressure – let your representatives know how you feel about the issues and how you and those you care about are impacted.
AMAZING FACT: None of this is to say that we do not need voting regulation updates. Did you know, according to PA election code, polling places are still supposed to have lanterns marking the entrances? We can all agree that it is an archaic relic of a time when there was no electricity. For more on PA election code woes, check out this article.
Speaking of elections, it is petition season for primaries!
What is petition season?
This is the state regulated window in which individuals who want to run for office from either the Democrat or Republican parties collect signatures to get their name on the primary ballot in May.
What does this mean?
Except for offices that allow cross-filing (such as school board and certain judicial roles), candidates must collect petition signatures from registered voters in their party who live in their district to appear on the primary ballot. State law determines how many signatures a person needs to get to be on the ballot. For example, to run for PA House of Representatives, you need 300 signatures. For state Senate, you need 500. This is what determines who is on the ballot when you vote in the primaries.
Important Dates
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Petition season: February 17 – March 10, 2026
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Last day to register to vote: May 4, 2026
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Last day to apply for a mail in ballot: May 12, 2026
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Election day: May 19, 2026
Remember – there are two elections every year (May & November).
Voting is one of the most important ways to support democracy!
What can you do?
There are many ways to get involved with elections, including but not limited to:
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Registering to vote or helping others to register
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Supporting candidates through donations, phone banking, door knocking
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Posting on social media updates and information related to elections
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Supporting organizations that support civic engagement
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Share information about candidates
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Get involved with your local party
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Share The Fund’s social media! Help us spread the word.
Immigration and ICE
Although the federal administration says only individuals with criminal records are being detained, the data does not support that claim. As of February 7th, 73.6% of detainees had no criminal record.
Immigrant issues are women’s issues. WHY?
First, while many of the images we see in the news are of men being detained, women are also being detained and are being denied medical and reproductive care while in custody.
Second, and often overlooked, many families rely on two incomes to get by. In many recent immigrant households, men are the primary earners. When they are detained, the sudden loss of income can be catastrophic for mothers and their families.
What can you do?
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Federally, we can communicate with our elected officials. When you are calling Sen Fetterman about the S.A.V.E America Act, you can also share your concerns about ICE and the proposal to build more detention centers here in PA. Sen Fetterman is pushing back on this construction – and we want to support him in continuing to do so.
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At the state level, several proposals have been put forth by legislators on both sides of the issue – this article outlining some of the bills that have been proposed. While neither side is likely to see their bills advance due to a divided legislature (the Senate is controlled by Republicans and the House is controlled by the Democrats) it is important to know what is being proposed and to let your legislator know where you stand on the issues.
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Locally, there is a lot you can do as well. Find out what nonprofits are providing direct services to immigrants and amplify their message. Reach out to see if you can volunteer. For example, I take shifts for a local nonprofit that serves the children of immigrants standing outside of the building they do an afterschool program at during pick up time to make sure families can safely pick up their children. Another nonprofit near me uses drivers to drop off food to families too scared to leave their homes. There are simple things we can all do. Trainings are occurring around the county to learn about what to do if you witness ICE detaining or trying to detain someone. Work with local elected officials constructively – find out how they engage with ICE and if there are agreements.
Contact Us!
Blake Emmanuel, our Director of Advocacy and Policy, is always here to talk! If you have any questions or want to discuss these issues or others, please don't hesitate to reach out to her at bemmanuel@thefundcc.org