WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – The Senate is looking to debate legislation that could overhaul federal voting requirements, as President Donald Trump continues to push for passage of the SAVE America Act, his top legislative priority.
Trump has threatened to withhold his signature from other legislation until the bill becomes law.
The House passed an earlier version of the bill, then called the SAVE Act, in February. The legislation would require people to show a passport or birth certificate to register to vote, and a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, at the polls in all 50 states.
People who have changed their names since birth would also be required to obtain documentation correcting their birth certificate.
In addition, the bill would mandate states establish programs to identify and remove noncitizens from voter registration lists.
Trump has since expanded his priorities for the SAVE America Act. He wants to ban mail-in voting except in rare circumstances, such as military deployments. He also wants language added that would ban gender-affirming care for minors and restrict transgender participation in sports.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the bill is necessary to secure American elections.
“The urgency behind [the President’s] need to pass the SAVE America Act and his desire to get this country-saving legislation passed has been made quite clear,” Leavitt said. “He wants all options on the table, and he wants the Senate to move as quickly as possible through whatever means necessary.”
Democrats argue the bill would disenfranchise some voters, particularly married women who have changed their names.
“Making America fill out more paperwork will not secure our elections,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) “This bill only makes it harder for women, members of our military and seniors to participate in our democratic process.”
The SAVE America Act does not currently have the votes needed to break a potential Democrat-led filibuster in the Senate. Every Senate Democrat, along with Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, has come out against the bill.
Many Republicans have pushed to change Senate filibuster rules to advance the legislation. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said earlier this week the votes are not there for a rule change.
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