Voter ID laws are about ‘ENFORCING’ the law: GOP senator

Key Concepts

• Save America Act: Proposed legislation requiring photo ID for federal elections and verifying citizenship.
• Real ID: A security standard for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, indicated by a yellow star.
• Filibuster: A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill. Requires 60 votes to overcome.
• Disenfranchisement: The denial of the right to vote.
• Citizenship Verification: Ensuring voters are legal citizens of the United States.

The Save America Act and Voting Rights Debate

Senator Mike Rounds discusses the “Save America Act,” a proposed bill focused on election integrity, specifically requiring photo identification for voting in federal elections and verifying citizenship. He states the bill currently has 50 Republican co-sponsors in the Senate, creating a potential path to passage with the Vice President breaking a tie. The primary goal, according to Senator Rounds, is to bring the bill to the floor for a vote and force Democrats to publicly state their position on the issue.

Public Support and Common Sense Measures

Senator Rounds emphasizes widespread public support for photo ID requirements, citing polls indicating 80-85% of Americans favor such measures. He frames the requirement as “common sense,” drawing parallels to everyday situations requiring identification, such as purchasing alcohol (“I can’t even go down and buy a Coors Light without showing my ID”) or boarding an airplane. He highlights the existence of the Real ID system, noting that many Americans already possess compliant identification (“If you take out your driver's license, and if you got a little yellow star up on the right hand corner, means you've already got your real ID in place”).

Addressing Democratic Objections and Misinformation

The Senator directly addresses criticisms leveled by Democrats, dismissing claims that the bill represents “Jim Crow 2.0” as “insane.” He specifically refutes the argument made by a Congresswoman (name not specified in the transcript) that requiring ID would disenfranchise 69 million women, particularly those who have recently married and changed their names. Senator Rounds clarifies that the bill, as modified from its initial House version, explicitly addresses this concern. He explains that presenting a marriage certificate during a name change for a driver’s license already satisfies the identification requirement, calling such objections “phony.” He notes Mike Lee played a role in clarifying this point within the bill.

Procedural Hurdles and the Filibuster

Senator Rounds clarifies the procedural requirements for passing the bill. While 50 votes are currently secured, a 60-vote threshold is needed to overcome a potential filibuster and “call the question” – forcing a vote. He anticipates Democrats will utilize the filibuster and raise concerns about voter disenfranchisement, which he dismisses as unfounded.

Citizenship and Federal vs. Local Elections

A key argument presented by Senator Rounds centers on enforcing existing citizenship requirements for federal elections. He points out that while some Democratic-led states allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, federal law mandates citizenship for participation in federal elections. He suggests the opposition to the bill stems from a desire to allow non-citizens to vote in federal elections, stating, “if you're illegally within this country, you probably don't have a driver's license with your name on it.” He emphasizes the bill is about enforcing existing law, not creating new restrictions.

Irony and Enforcement

Senator Rounds points out the irony that Democrats opposing the bill require photo ID to cast their own votes in Congress.

Voting Thresholds and Vice Presidential Role

The Senator clarifies that 50 votes, combined with the Vice President’s tie-breaking vote, would be sufficient to pass the bill. He reiterates that the primary hurdle remains overcoming the 60-vote threshold needed to end a filibuster.

Conclusion

The interview highlights the contentious debate surrounding election integrity measures. Senator Rounds frames the “Save America Act” as a common-sense solution with broad public support, aimed at ensuring secure and lawful federal elections. He actively counters Democratic criticisms, emphasizing clarifications within the bill and framing opposition as motivated by a desire to expand voting rights to non-citizens. The success of the bill hinges on overcoming the filibuster in the Senate, a significant procedural challenge.