ATLANTA — With control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Republicans are eager to initiate quick reforms in the nation’s voting processes. They are focusing on implementing long-desired changes, which include voter identification and proof of citizenship requirements, to bolster public faith in elections. They argue that the trust in the electoral process has diminished, largely fueled by unfounded accusations of widespread fraud during the 2020 election, promulgated by then-President Donald Trump and his supporters. As the new year approaches, pressure mounts on Republicans to address Trump’s push for altering U.S. election procedures, despite his victory in the November elections.
Republicans are primarily banking on advancing legislation known as the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. These initiatives are being led by Republican Representative Bryan Steil from Wisconsin, who chairs the Committee on House Administration. Steil expressed optimism about the potential for passing these proposals into law, emphasizing the opportunity for unified Republican governance to bring meaningful electoral changes. “We need to improve Americans’ confidence in elections,” he stated in a recent interview.
However, a point of contention arises as Democrats prepare to push back against these efforts. With slim majorities in the House and Senate, Republicans are entering a landscape marked by potential friction. Steil anticipates that modifications may be necessary as they discuss the proposals, hoping for bipartisan collaboration to refine and gain support.
Democrats, on the other hand, advocate for measures that simplify the voting process rather than restrict it. Representative Joe Morelle from New York expressed that while there’s a chance for some consensus, he believes that the GOP’s previous bills impose excessive limitations. “The Republicans have largely focused on constricting access to ballots,” Morelle argued, pointing out that both the SAVE and ACE acts hinder voter access.
Morelle is keen on promoting federal funding dedicated to election offices and highlights areas for bipartisan endeavors. He stresses the significance of capping foreign contributions to U.S. elections and tentatively supports voter ID requirements, depending on adequate provisions for safeguarding voters. However, he also mentioned that certain state regulations on acceptable voter identification can disproportionately impact college students and those without fixed addresses.
The discussions surrounding these proposed voting reforms have been fueled by GOP assertions during campaigns regarding noncitizen voting – an assertion Morelle sharply criticized as being largely unfounded, especially post-election, highlighting a stark discrepancy in their narrative when Trump secured a win. He commented, “Suddenly the rampant problem they described vanished into thin air.” Notably, voting by noncitizens is already illegal and can lead to severe consequences such as felony charges and deportation.
Previously, House Republicans successfully passed the SAVE Act before the November elections, though it faced hurdles in the Democrat-dominated Senate. This act seeks to enforce proof of citizenship during voter registration and imposes possible penalties on election officials for not verifying eligibility. GOP advocates argue that current voting laws rely too heavily on an honor system, with loopholes allowing noncitizens to register.
Despite some instances of noncitizen voting, research underscores that such occurrences are minimal, largely characterized as errors rather than deliberate attempts to interfere with electoral outcomes. Currently, registrants can provide a state driver’s license number or their last four digits of their Social Security number as identification, with some states requiring a complete Social Security number.
Republicans contend that the existing voting registration mechanism is inadequate. They assert that in many states, people can still be added to voter rolls without providing proper identification and note that even noncitizens can acquire driver’s licenses or Social Security numbers. They are proposing that states must reject voter registration applications lacking proof of citizenship, which could be demonstrated by a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a passport, or a birth certificate.
In Georgia, an important state in the presidential race, election officials have voiced their confidence regarding the verification of nearly 7.3 million registered voters, bolstered by audits that highlight the security measures in place. Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, remarked that the audits are crucial in affirming voter confidence in the integrity of the election system and noted that his state is committed to maintaining accurate voter lists through initiatives like REAL ID and automatic voter registration systems.
With potential reforms on the horizon, the responsibility will ultimately fall to election authorities nationwide for implementation. Raffensperger, alongside Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, caution against a national law mandating one voting day, as it could restrict early voting and mail-in ballots, which are highly favored by the public. They both hope that lawmakers will observe successful state practices and use them as models for future legislation, emphasizing secure and accurate election processes.
