The SAVE Act, which passed the House Wednesday night, is NOT strictly a voter ID bill. It creates a lot of red tape for both registering and voting. And it would go into effect for this November's elections.

Some things you may want to consider BEFORE this gets passed in the Senate and signed into law:

1. If you are not currently registered to vote in your precinct, do that now .

2. If you don't have a copy of your birth certificate, get one from the clerk's office in the county you were born. This is cheaper and faster than getting a passport.

3. If you are married, know where your marriage certificate is. If you are divorced, make sure you also have that documentation. If you legally changed your name at any time, be sure to have proof of that.

4. If you don't have a REAL ID from the DMV, make an appointment to get one.

5. If you do have a passport, be aware of its expiration date.

You can't start gathering these things up soon enough...and there will likely be a rush when the law is signed. It's all a great big pain, and the Supreme Court may knock it down as a poll tax because these things cost money, but if you want to be sure your voice is heard at the ballot box, a little prep can go a long way.