U.S. Senate to hold marathon debate on GOP voter ID bill

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(The Center Square) – Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., plans to bring a Republican elections reform bill to the floor next week and kickstart a marathon debate that could potentially last days.

The move is an attempt to appease a vocal minority of Republicans who have called for Thune to revive the “talking filibuster,” which would require Democrats to hold the floor in order for the Senate’s 60-vote threshold to remain in force.

President Donald Trump endorsed the talking filibuster, but Thune has argued that there is not enough support in the Republican Caucus. 

The marathon debate is unlikely to change the minds of enough Democrats to overcome the filibuster. But Thune and his supporters argue that it will at least force Senate Democrats to go on the record about why they oppose the House-passed SAVE America Act.

“I can’t guarantee an outcome on this legislation. But I can guarantee that we are going to put Democrats on the record,” Thune told lawmakers. “That they will be forced to defend their outrageous positions on these issues – and explain to the American people why common sense and the Democratic Party have parted ways.”

The SAVE America Act would mandate that Americans display a valid ID to vote in federal elections, require people to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote, and necessitate in-person voter registration for federal elections. 

It also directs states to remove all noncitizens from their voter rolls.

Under the legislation, people would not be able to register to vote with only their driver's license, since noncitizens can obtain that. They would instead need to present documents proving U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport.

“Only American citizens should be able to vote in our elections. Period. This shouldn't be controversial,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said on social media Friday. “If Democrats want to block something that the overwhelming majority of Americans agree with – be my guest.”

Democrats have dubbed the bill “Jim Crow 2.0,” arguing it could make it harder for minorities, the disabled, and married women to register to vote. 

Thune, however, called Democrats’ rhetoric “unforgivable” and “insulting.”

“Either Democrats are just reflexively opposing this proposal because it originated from Republicans, or Democrats believe that there are in fact people out there voting illegally and that it’s benefiting Democrats, and they want to keep it going,” Thune told lawmakers Thursday.

“I honestly cannot think of another reason to oppose something so eminently reasonable as requiring people to demonstrate that they’re eligible to vote – and that they are who they say they are when they go to the polls.”