Republicans push for proof-of-citizenship voting bill

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Some Senate Republicans pushed for the passage of a new law on Wednesday that would require proof of citizenship to vote.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) called on members of Congress to support the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or SAVE Act. The bill would require proof of U.S. citizenship and identity in person for voter registration in federal elections. It would also require states to remove noncitizens from existing voter roles.

“Our elections, especially in battleground states, can hinge on a few thousand votes. Protecting the integrity of our system by requiring proof of citizenship isn’t controversial. It’s actually common sense,” said Sen. Marshall.

Democrats oppose the bill, saying it is unnecessary.

“It’s important to make clear that the Constitution already requires citizenship in order to be able to participate in our elections. That’s federal law,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

The bill has been introduced in the House as well and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has called for its passage.

Former President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday that that Republicans should not pass the government funding bill without getting “absolute assurances on Election Security.”

Democrats have vowed to vote against any spending plan with the SAVE Act attached, meaning it would be dead on arrival in the Senate, where they hold a majority.

Sen. Rick Scott said no Republican wants a shutdown.

The Senate Republicans says none of them want that.

“There’s nobody up here that wants to shut down the government. I don’t know one person know I don’t know, a Republican in the country that wants to shut down the government,” he said.

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