Sen. Chuck Grassley says it is extremely unlikely the contentious Safeguard American Voters Eligibility (SAVE) Act will become law due to insufficient support in the U.S. Senate. The bill, which originated in the U.S. House of Representatives, aims to tighten election security by adding checks in the voter registration process that ensure only U.S. citizens register to vote. While the legislation has faced pushback from voters’ rights groups, Grassley says the premise behind the bill is simple.
Grassley says most Americans, regardless of their political affiliations, favor the concept.
The bill requires voters to prove they are U.S. citizens, either through a REAL ID, a valid U.S. Passport, or other official documentation showing that the applicant was born in the U.S. or has legally obtained citizenship. It also requires voters to show photo ID when voting. Opponents of the bill argue that it makes voter registration too onerous and disproportionately impacts certain demographics. The bill is likely to reach the Senate floor for a vote this week, but Grassley, a co-sponsor, is not optimistic.
The GOP currently holds 53 seats in the Senate, and Grassley does not expect seven of the remaining 47 senators to back the SAVE Act to break the filibuster. Grassley made his comments last Friday during his weekly Capitol Hill Report with Iowa reporters.
