ATLANTA — With Republicans now in control of the White House as well as both chambers of Congress, they are preparing to swiftly pursue an overhaul of the voting process across the nation. Their agenda includes implementing voter identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements, which they assert are essential for restoring public confidence in electoral processes. This trust has reportedly diminished, particularly due to false allegations from President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters regarding election fraud during the 2020 election. As the new year approaches, Republicans are expected to honor Trump’s requests for changes in how U.S. elections are conducted, despite their recent electoral victory.
The primary legislative initiatives anticipated from Republicans are the American Confidence in Elections Act and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, referred to as the ACE and SAVE acts. GOP Representative Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, who chairs the House Administration Committee charged with overseeing election-related legislation, expressed optimism about advancing these bills. “With a united Republican government, we have a significant opportunity to advance these legislative pieces not just out of committee but through the House and into law,” Steil mentioned in a recent interview. He emphasized the need to bolster the American public’s confidence in the electoral system.
Opposition from Democrats is expected, and given the slim majorities Republicans hold in both the House and Senate, maneuvering through the political landscape may prove challenging. Steil indicated some modifications to the proposed bills might be necessary and expressed hope for bipartisan collaboration to refine them for broader support.
Democrats, on the other hand, aim to facilitate rather than complicate the voting process. New York Representative Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the committee, acknowledged the possibility for bipartisan agreement but criticized the previous Republican bills for being too restrictive. He stated, “Our perspectives on voting rights are fundamentally different. The Republicans have consistently worked to limit access to ballots at both state and federal levels.” Morelle highlighted the need for federal funding for election offices and recognized bipartisan opportunities relating to curbing foreign influence in elections, alongside possible voter ID requirements provided adequate protections for voters are in place.
Concerns have been raised by Democrats about overly stringent state laws that restrict acceptable forms of ID for voting, which could disadvantage college students and individuals without stable housing. Morelle expressed disappointment with the GOP’s narratives surrounding noncitizen voting, pointing out that those claims waned significantly after Trump achieved electoral success. He emphasized that unauthorized voting by noncitizens is illegal and can lead to severe consequences, voicing skepticism about the Republican rhetoric surrounding this issue.
Republicans believe the current voter registration system operates on an “honor system” that has allowed noncitizens to register and vote without sufficient verification. Although instances of noncitizen voting have been recorded, research indicates such occurrences are infrequent and often attributed to errors rather than malicious intent. Currently, individuals registering to vote are required to provide specific identification information like a driver’s license number or the last digits of their Social Security number, which varies by state.
Republicans argue that there are insufficient safeguards in place, as many states allow voter roll additions without the necessary identification details. They believe current laws requiring registrants to attest their U.S. citizenship under oath fall short of preventing fraud. The proposed changes would mandate that states reject voter registration applications unless citizenship proof is supplied, which could include presenting a government-issued ID.
In Georgia, a pivotal state for presidential elections, officials reported no significant issues in confirming the citizenship of nearly 7.3 million registered voters. A recent audit identified a small number of individuals who could not be confirmed as U.S. citizens. State Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger remarked that these audits help reassure voters that there are no noncitizens participating in elections. He advocates for both voter ID and citizenship proof regulations as measures to enhance electoral trust amid a polarized society.
Looking ahead, any legislative changes passed by Congress would need to be implemented by election officials nationwide. Raffensperger, along with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, cautioned against establishing a single voting day, as Trump has proposed. Such a move could limit early voting and mail-in voting, both of which enjoy substantial support among voters. In Georgia, for instance, 71% of voters opted for in-person voting before Election Day in November. Both officials urged lawmakers to consider successful practices from their states when designing electoral reforms.
