Sen. Collins supports the GOP’s America Act needing voter ID

Senate Republicans Rally Support for Voter ID Legislation

Senate Republicans have gained a significant ally in their push for voter ID legislation, but this backing comes with certain stipulations.

Three senators, predominantly Republican Sen. Mike Lee from Utah, have initiated efforts to persuade fellow members to back the Protection of American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE). They’re utilizing both social media and private discussions to gather support.

One notable victory for this campaign was the endorsement from Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who voiced her support for the SAVE America Act, a piece of legislation that recently cleared the House.

With Collins on board, Senate Republicans now back the bill, though the support is somewhat narrow.

In her statement, Collins expressed, “I support the SAVE America Act, which was recently passed by the House of Representatives.” She added, “The law is clear in this country that only American citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections.”

Collins further explained her rationale, stating, “Just like people must show identification before boarding a plane, checking into a hotel, or buying an alcoholic beverage, requiring ID at polling places is a straightforward reform that will enhance the security of federal elections and bolster public confidence in election outcomes.”

However, she previously opposed the earlier version of the SAVE Act because it mandated individuals to prove their citizenship each time they voted.

Her backing provides Lee and Senate Republicans with the support necessary to navigate a significant procedural challenge within the Senate.

Lee noted in a post on X that “even without additional votes, there were enough votes to pass the motion to advance the bill to the House of Representatives,” and the tie was broken by Vice President J.D. Vance.

A potential showdown could arise if Republicans pivot to a standing or speaking filibuster, a strategy Lee has been advocating. This approach involves a physical debate on the bill, lending itself to the traditional approach of the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to overcome.

Lee and his conservative allies are optimistic about the possibility of overcoming Democratic opposition through this method, contrasting it with the so-called “zombie filibuster.” Yet, there are concerns that leaning on this tactic could leave the Senate gridlocked for an extended period, possibly dragging on for weeks or longer.

Collins’ support, while significant, still doesn’t meet the 60-vote threshold necessary to break the filibuster.

Additionally, Collins has clearly stated her opposition to abolishing the filibuster, a sentiment echoed by several Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who reiterated that there isn’t enough Republican backing to eliminate this legislative mechanism.

“I oppose abolishing the legislative filibuster,” Collins remarked. “The filibuster is crucial for protecting the rights of minority parties and compels senators to collaborate for the nation’s best interests.”

She added a cautionary note, warning that removing this safeguard could allow a future Democratic-controlled Congress to pass major initiatives—like DC statehood or changes to the Supreme Court—merely by a simple majority.