U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on March 10 against the Republicans’ SAVE America Act, which he said would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. President Trump has stated he will not sign any legislation until Congress passes this bill.
The debate over the SAVE America Act is significant because it could affect voter access nationwide during a time of ongoing international conflict and domestic policy negotiations. The proposed legislation would require all Americans registering to vote to show documentary proof of citizenship, making driver’s licenses and other government-issued IDs insufficient for registration.
“Amidst a war in the Middle East and DHS funding negotiations, the President of the United States now insists that the SAVE America Act should be our number one priority, our only priority. He made it clear,” Durbin said. “Don’t let the name of this bill fool you. The SAVE America Act would not protect our elections. Instead, it would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote.”
Durbin pointed out that noncitizens are already barred from voting and that election officials must verify citizenship status when registering voters. He cited a study by the Brennan Center and University of Maryland showing that more than 21 million eligible voters lack documents readily available to prove their citizenship. “The system works,” Durbin said. “According to the conservative Heritage Foundation—and you can look this up online—from 2003 to 2023, 20 years, do you know how many non-American citizens they caught voting in 20 years? Twenty-four.”
He also criticized requirements under the bill that would exclude REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and military IDs as sufficient proof for voter registration: “Suddenly, providing your driver’s license—even if REAL ID compliant—will no longer be enough to register to vote. Nor would military IDs be sufficient for service members… Under this legislation, election officials would accept a limited number of documents, and this could prevent millions of Americans from being eligible to vote in November.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee plays an important role in shaping constitutional protections and public safety through its legislative and oversight duties according to its official website. The committee reviews legislation related to civil rights and oversees federal law enforcement agencies according to its official website. It is led by a chairperson who manages meetings with senators from both major parties according to its official website, and operates as a standing committee with authority over judicial matters according to its official website.
Durbin concluded his remarks by saying, “Making Americans fill out more paperwork will not secure our elections. This bill only makes it harder for women, members of our military, and seniors to participate in the democratic process.”
