Senate Republicans’ Efforts to Pass Voter ID Legislation Face Setbacks
You can now listen to Fox News articles! Four Senate Republicans broke ranks and obstructed another attempt to pass President Donald Trump’s notable voter ID and election integrity legislation. This happened as the GOP advanced efforts to fund immigration enforcement.
Senators Susan Collins from Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina were the Republicans who joined all Democrats to block the motion. This marks the second time Republicans have tried to attach the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act to their budget reconciliation package. Their bid ended unsuccessfully again, months after initiating a near-floor takeover to debate the bill.
Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., thwarted a late-night effort to attach the SAVE America Act to the GOP’s plan for immigration enforcement funding.
The amendment by Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina required at least 60 votes to pass, attached to the nearly $70 billion package aimed at funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. The threshold proved insurmountable on Thursday night. This underscores a political reality in the Senate that the SAVE America Act is unlikely to advance, given unanimous Democratic opposition and partial dissent within the Senate GOP. Although Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota pushed for the talking filibuster, success remained elusive.
Graham challenged Democrats, suggesting their resistance to voter ID implied willingness to allow election fraud. He contended the absence of voter ID makes cheating easier. He also voiced concerns about noncitizens voting and expressed views against minors undertaking gender transitions and biological males participating in female sports.
“There’s no other reason to say you don’t have to have an ID. It just makes cheating easier,” remarked Graham.
Senator Alex Padilla of California highlighted that a similar proposal faced bipartisan defeat a month earlier. He insisted existing safeguards function properly and noncitizen voting is unlawful. Padilla perceived the amendment as a repeated attempt to advance the President’s priorities.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., reaffirmed that current election safeguards are sufficient.
Padilla criticized simultaneous moves to restrict vote-by-mail and amend regulations concerning transgender individuals during Pride Month.
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital with a focus on the U.S. Senate.