Democrats are promising to kill a bill requiring voters nationwide to show an ID at the polls, part of a long campaign to keep the election laws loose and make it easier for Democrat-leaning voters to cast ballots.
So why are they so worried about what seems like a common sense measure to prevent voter fraud?
The bill narrowly passed by the House and now before the U.S. Senate would crack down on illegal voting in 14 states, including Massachusetts, that do not force voters to show a photo ID. It would also require proof of citizenship to register to vote.
The proposed law change could have wide-ranging ramifications for the midterm and presidential elections, which are ripe for fraud.
Democrats claim the bill is too stringent and would discourage legal citizens from voting, and even prevent married women who changed their names from casting ballots.
These scare tactics are likely to work in the Senate, where supporters of the bill – called the SAVE America Act, need 60 votes to send it to President Donald Trump. That’s a threshold Republicans can’t meet and Democrats have in fact called the bill “dead on arrival.”
Massachusetts is especially susceptible to fraud, because the state has handed out tens of thousands of drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants, giving them a handy photo ID.
In some cases, Bay State voters may be asked for identification, which could be a drivers’ license or simply a recent utility bill or letter from a school housing office.
Even if they don’t produce one of those documents, voters can still cast a provisional ballot, giving them time to find an acceptable form of ID.
Some states are even more lenient, requiring voters to simply swear they are citizens or signing a poll book to cast a ballot.
Trump recently vowed to take executive action if the SAVE America Act fails, circumventing Congress. But that will face tough legal challenges.
“There will be voter ID for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not,” Trump posted.
Not likely. The courts are almost sure to rule Trump’s action unconstitutional.
But the back and forth debate shows how critical it would be to change the election laws.
Republicans have for years claimed widespread fraud at the ballot box, while Democrats say it is rare and overstated.
So why not require a simple photo ID to vote, just like you do to buy a six pack of beer? If Democrats claim non-citizens hardly ever vote, why not put it to the test?
Because they know the bill could jeopardize their voter outreach efforts and kill liberal election laws in some states like same day registration – which favor Democrats.
It’s a high stakes fight that probably won’t be settled before the midterms.