To the Editor: Ever since 2020, the perennial Republican claim of “voter fraud” has had new resurgence due to Donald John Trump’s historically cognizant termed “Big Lie” of far-reaching voter fraud in the presidential election.

Typically for a con-artist, he met his victory last year with none of the same skepticism.

Nevertheless, current members of Congress of the once grand old party now intend to make voting more onerous than ever before — and they’ve dressed a voters’ restriction bill as a so-called “SAVE” Act as part of their broader Project 2025 intentions for the year.

We have surpassed one month of the 2025 catastrophe creation project, and February seems to have had a focus from Elon Musk and the “government efficiency” or DOGE effort, but even then, the Republicans of Congress have sought the SAVE Act’s voter restrictions and continue to in March.

Such restrictions include more demanding voter identification requirements, including expectation of an original, physical birth certificate for their expected opposition, which many women, seniors, veterans, and the disabled — who would also face multiple other new hurdles if the bill passed — would face disenfranchisement from, and expectedly at a disproportionate extent of likely liberal or Democratic voters.

Our representative, Pat Ryan, can’t allow the SAVE Act to begin as a law if it has a vote called. While Senator Schumer may have some discretion in the Senate, Speaker Johnson can call a vote from the House and require a turn to the Senate if it passes. Therefore, to hold stern against Johnson’s own forays toward the Project 2025 impetus, he must vote No against the SAVE Act, and advocate firmly against it while it has deliberation in the House, as well.

Now in the U.S.A. we face the most serious threat to a free and open democracy in perhaps all of our lifetimes. So, we must stand together and staunchly prevent any reduction in our free and fair practice of democratic politics. As the people united will never be divided, so a democracy strengthened withstands all efforts to weaken it.

James Owen Carmody

Kingston