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Democrats have long argued African Americans are incapable of obtaining personal identification and, therefore, requiring a photo ID to vote was racist. When Georgia, for example, implemented reforms to their voting laws, Joe Biden labeled it “Jim Eagle.”
Black voters, however, have long revealed they think such a claim is bogus.
This video asking black people in Harlem if they have ID will forever be one of the best reactions to the “voter ID is racist” nonsense pic.twitter.com/uTtVWJ3kLV
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) October 23, 2024
Now, the GOP appears ready to call the Democratic bluff.
Republicans are preparing to push significant reforms to the nation’s voting laws, capitalizing on their control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, writes The Associated Press. Central to their efforts are the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, both of which propose stricter voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. GOP leaders argue these measures are necessary to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Congressman Bryan Steil, of Wisconsin, the chair of the House Administration Committee, emphasized the importance of advancing these bills, describing the current political landscape as a rare opportunity for comprehensive reform. Steil expressed hope for bipartisan collaboration, even as deep philosophical divides on voting access persist. He stressed the need to improve public trust in elections, framing the proposed changes as common-sense measures.
Democrats, of course, remain deeply skeptical of these proposals. Rep. Joe Morelle, a New Yorker whose staff was caught trying to bring weaponry into the Capitol, criticized the ACE and SAVE Acts for creating what he views as unnecessary barriers to voting. While acknowledging possible agreement on issues like increased federal funding for election infrastructure and restrictions on foreign campaign financing, Morelle argued that the Republican bills would make voting harder, not easier. He also pushed back against GOP claims of widespread noncitizen voting, pointing out that documented cases are extremely rare and already carry harsh legal consequences, including felony charges and deportation.
Right before the election, however, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin revealed that over 1,500 foreign voters were on his state’s voter rolls alone, a number that could alter races and control over the state government. In 2018, control of the Virginia statehouse came down to drawing a name out of a hat after an election tied.
A central element of the SAVE Act is the requirement for individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Republicans contend that the current system, which often relies on self-certification under oath and partial Social Security data, is vulnerable to error and potential misuse. Although instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare and often result from clerical mistakes rather than intentional fraud, GOP leaders insist that stricter verification measures are necessary to close potential gaps in the system.
Georgia offers a prominent example of how voter verification measures can be implemented effectively, Republicans say. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, pointed to Georgia’s use of audits and REAL ID-compliant licenses to maintain accurate voter rolls. In 2022, Georgia’s audits flagged over 1,600 voter registration attempts that could not be verified through federal databases. Raffensperger emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, calling trust the “gold standard” in election administration.
In October, two weeks before the election, Gallup found that requiring a photo ID and providing proof of citizenship were both favored by nearly 85 percent of the population.
It’s no mystery, though, as to why Democrats want to kill the requirement. Of the 14 states that don’t require ID to vote, Kamala Harris won all but Nevada and Pennsylvania. Both saw heavy scrutiny as battleground states.
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