Trump pushes SAVE America Act amid Republican divide
8 reported
President Trump has expressed interest in the SAVE America Act, a voting legislation bill that is not widely supported by his Republican colleagues in Congress, according to NPR. The bill would require proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote, and research cited in the report indicates roughly 1 in 10 Americans could have trouble providing those documents. The bill narrowly passed the House, but Senate passage would require overcoming the filibuster, which lacks broad Republican support. Trump has pushed a maximalist version of the bill that could include restrictions on vote-by-mail and provisions regarding transgender athletes, according to the report. Election law professor Derek Muller stated that if passed, the SAVE Act would be one of the most significant nationalizations of elections in American history. Republican election official Gabriel Sterling said he believes Republicans will lose seats in Congress and that Trump may contest the results, while Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson expressed concern that the debate could erode public faith in democracy.
What’s reported
President Trump has shown interest in the SAVE America Act, a voting legislation bill.
The bill would require proof of citizenship (passport or birth certificate) to register to vote.
Research cited in the report shows roughly 1 in 10 Americans could have trouble providing such documents.
The bill narrowly passed the House but faces opposition in the Senate due to the filibuster.
Trump has pushed a maximalist version that could include restrictions on vote-by-mail and provisions on transgender athletes.
Election law professor Derek Muller said the SAVE Act would be one of the most significant nationalizations of elections in American history.
Republican election official Gabriel Sterling predicted Republicans will lose seats and that Trump may contest the results.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said the debate could cause citizens to lose faith in democracy.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Miles Parks, NPR voting correspondent
Scott Simon, NPR host
Derek Muller, election law professor at Notre Dame
Gabriel Sterling, Republican election official in Georgia
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan secretary of state and Democratic candidate for governor
Sources: NPR
