Democrats Trash GOP’s Voter ID Plan
Democrats are criticizing a Republican-backed election reform bill as the House prepares to vote on legislation that would require proof of citizenship and voter identification nationwide.
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) dismissed the proposal during a Sunday television interview, calling it unnecessary and claiming it addresses a problem that does not exist. Ivey made the remarks while appearing on NewsNation’s The Hill Sunday.
The comments come as lawmakers prepare to consider the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill that would require individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and present valid identification when casting a ballot.
Supporters of the legislation argue the measure would strengthen election security and bring uniform standards to federal elections.
Under the SAVE Act, acceptable proof of citizenship would include a U.S. passport, birth certificate, hospital birth record, or a government-issued photo ID from a federal, state, or tribal authority. Military identification accompanied by official service records would also qualify.
Voter ID requirements are already in place across much of the country. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states currently request or require some form of identification at polling locations. The remaining states, along with Washington, D.C., use alternative methods to verify voter identity, such as signature matching.
Public support for voter ID laws remains strong. An August survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that more than 80 percent of Americans favor requiring government-issued photo identification to vote, including a majority of Democratic voters.
Earlier in the program, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) defended the SAVE Act, describing it as a common-sense measure that reflects the views of most Americans and aligns with existing practices in many states.
Ivey responded by questioning Republican credibility on election issues following the 2020 presidential election. He argued that supporters of the bill have not demonstrated that widespread voter fraud exists and criticized continued disputes over the election’s outcome.
Republicans, however, maintain that voter ID requirements are about ensuring confidence in the electoral process, protecting lawful votes, and maintaining clear and consistent standards nationwide.
As the House vote approaches, the debate highlights a broader divide over how elections should be managed and whether federal standards are necessary to preserve trust in the democratic process.
