Schumer Vows To Block SAVE Act After House Passage
Sen. Chuck Schumer called the House-passed SAVE America Act "Jim Crow 2.0" and vowed to block it, citing disenfranchisement and opposing ICE presence at polling places.
Overview
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he and Senate Democrats will block the House-passed SAVE America Act "tooth and nail" and will not let it reach the president's desk.
The House passed the SAVE Act by a 218-213 vote on Wednesday and the bill would require photo ID at polling places and proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration.
Schumer called the bill "Jim Crow 2.0" and said it would prevent "over 20 million" mainly poorer people and people of color from voting, while President Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order if Congress does not act.
A Pew survey cited on CNN found about 83% of Americans support voter ID, including 71% of Democrats and 95% of Republicans, and only one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar, voted with Republicans.
With Republicans holding a three-seat Senate majority and the Senate lacking 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, Democrats said they may force a lengthy debate and insist ICE be kept away from polling places.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as legally and democratically problematic by foregrounding Trump's vow, then promptly contextualizing it with constitutional analysis, court rulings, and scholars calling proposed federal mandates unconstitutional. Language choices like "false claims" and "disenfranchise," selective expert sourcing, and structural contrast emphasize legal obstacles and voter-rights concerns.
Sources (25)
FAQ
The SAVE America Act requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a REAL ID indicating citizenship, U.S. passport, or military ID with service record, for federal voter registration, mandates photo ID at polling places, directs states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls, and restricts mail-in ballots except for specific cases like illness or military service.
History
20 sources