Discussion on the Protecting American Voter Eligibility Act

During a recent appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) characterized the Protecting American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE, as yet another strategy by Republicans and former President Donald Trump aimed at undermining election integrity.

Host Dana Bash pointed out that the president expressed a desire to nationalize elections, linking this to the SAVE Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship—like a birth certificate—for voting. She noted that while there’s resistance to using passports as ID, the concept of basic voter identification enjoys broad support. A Pew poll indicated that 83% of Americans favor ID requirements, including 71% of Democrats, prompting her to ask if that viewpoint could be wrong.

Jeffries responded, emphasizing that they aren’t dismissing those views. He argued that states should have the authority to manage their elections in a way that promotes fairness, highlighting the risk of voter suppression by Republican initiatives. “They would face losses if elections are conducted fairly,” he asserted.

He further claimed that Trump’s aim is to take control of election procedures, vowing that such attempts would not succeed. Jeffries noted past efforts to combat gerrymandering aimed at redrawing congressional districts in Republican states and emphasized the Democrats’ proactive stance heading into midterm elections. He also mentioned efforts to prevent Trump from federalizing the National Guard, a move he believes was part of a broader strategy to intimidate voters in cities across the nation. He concluded that elections should be administered fairly, allowing state and local authorities to uphold the laws.