Dem pols battle against national voter ID rule despite 71% of their voters backing it
Top Democratic lawmakers are facing strong opposition to a federal voter identification requirement, despite overwhelming support from the American public. A recent survey by Pew Research found that a staggering 83% of US adults support the idea of requiring some form of government-issued photo ID to vote, with even 71% of Democrats in favor of the policy. Only 16% of American adults oppose it, highlighting the widespread support for voter ID laws.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been vocal in his criticism of the GOP’s Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would mandate voters nationwide to show proof of citizenship in order to cast their ballot. Schumer has described the measure as “Jim Crow 2.0,” drawing parallels to past discriminatory voting practices in the South. He argues that the requirement could disenfranchise individuals who have difficulty obtaining the necessary identification, such as women who change their last name after marriage or those who have lost track of their birth certificates.
Despite the polling data showing significant support for voter ID laws, Democratic lawmakers remain steadfast in their opposition to the SAVE Act. Senator Adam Schiff echoed Schumer’s concerns, stating that the measure could suppress the vote and disenfranchise citizens who lack the required identification. The Democrats are using the filibuster to block the legislation in the Senate, with Schumer predicting that it won’t receive any Democratic votes.
On the other hand, some Democrats have expressed support for voter ID laws. Senator John Fetterman has backed the idea of voter ID requirements, emphasizing that they are not akin to Jim Crow laws. President Trump has been a vocal proponent of passing the SAVE Act, urging Republicans to push for voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements. However, the legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate, with Republican leaders hesitant to nuke the filibuster to pass it.
In a twist of irony, Senate Democrats had previously considered weakening the filibuster to pass an election reform law that included provisions such as same-day voter registration and mandatory early voting. The effort ultimately failed due to opposition from Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Despite the ongoing debate surrounding voter ID laws and election reform, the Pew Research survey underscores the broad support for requiring identification to vote among the American public.
