Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Sunday called passing the SAVE America Act before the midterm elections an “impossible task.” During an interview on CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ Tillis questioned the urgency of implementing the bill in North Carolina, a state that already has voter ID laws. He argued that Republicans should focus on winning elections under current laws rather than pushing for new legislation that could undermine voter confidence.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) echoed similar sentiments, telling CBS News that he met with former President Donald Trump last week but could not discern the former president’s priorities beyond the SAVE Act. Cassidy noted that Louisiana has successfully implemented voter ID laws without disenfranchising voters, suggesting that the bill may not be as urgent as some advocates claim.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are pressuring Senate leaders to advance the bill, which has already passed the House. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has faced criticism from GOP colleagues for resisting a procedural maneuver that could help pass the legislation. Some House Republicans, including Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), have demanded that the Senate debate the bill openly, accusing Thune of delaying progress.
The SAVE America Act, which requires voter ID and citizenship verification for voter registration, remains stalled in the Senate. President Trump has refused to sign a major housing bill until the Senate advances the election integrity legislation, escalating tensions within the GOP. The Senate’s upcoming recess further complicates efforts to pass the bill before the midterms.