Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, stated that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) America Act would complicate electoral success for Democrats. Her comments were made in a video recorded after the Senate's narrow rejection of the bill in June, which failed with a vote of 50-48. Four Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the legislation.
The SAVE America Act has become a significant legislative issue, with President Donald Trump prioritizing its passage. He recently refused to sign a housing bill in protest of Congress' inaction on the SAVE America Act. During a speech to the Indiana state Democratic Party, Slotkin expressed relief over the Senate's rejection of the bill, claiming it would enable the Trump administration to undermine democracy.
Slotkin remarked, "It would be hard for any Democrat in any state to win any election" if the bill were enacted, but did not elaborate on how the legislation would adversely affect Democratic candidates. The proposed legislation requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and photo identification for voting in federal elections, along with measures to remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
Trump has argued that Democrats oppose the SAVE America Act to maintain weak voter verification processes that he claims benefit them politically. He has suggested that the opposition stems from a desire to facilitate electoral fraud.
The Center for Election Innovation & Research, a nonprofit group, has reported that instances of noncitizen voter registration are rare, and when they occur, officials act quickly to maintain election integrity. Slotkin also claimed that the SAVE America Act would create challenges for married women voting, as they might need to present their birth certificates at polling places if their names do not match their current identification.
Critics of the bill argue it could impose additional requirements on married women who have changed their last names. Republican members of Congress have criticized Slotkin's statements, asserting that they reflect an inability to win elections based on merit. The White House responded to Slotkin's claims by suggesting that if securing elections through measures like voter ID makes it difficult for Democrats to win, they should reconsider their electoral strategies.