Former VP Mike Pence Advocates for National Voter ID Law
In an exclusive chat, Mike Pence, the former Vice President, expressed that a national voter ID law is long overdue. He urged the Senate to enact voter ID legislation that would apply across all states. This comes as the Senate is reviewing the SAVE America Act, a bill that has strong backing from Pence’s former boss, Donald Trump.
The SAVE Act, which aims to enhance voter eligibility protections, just managed to make its way through the Republican-majority House in February, mostly receiving party-line support. Currently, the Republicans hold a slim 53-47 edge in the Senate, which falls short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill.
This proposed federal law seeks to implement stricter voter ID and citizenship verification requirements nationwide. Proponents, mainly Republicans, argue that this is essential for ensuring integrity in the electoral process.
Pence stated, “I think the notion of requiring voters to present photo ID and prove their citizenship is an idea whose time has come.” He also mentioned, with pride, that Indiana was among the first states to adopt a voter ID law, which was eventually upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and has since served as a model for other states.
Public opinion polls suggest that most Americans, irrespective of their party lines, favor having voter ID checks at polling places to help prevent noncitizens from participating in federal elections. However, critics, mainly Democrats, claim that such measures are unnecessary since citizenship verification is already a part of the voting process and that noncitizens rarely vote.
Furthermore, Democrats and various voting rights groups argue that the federal bill would impose unnecessary hurdles, making it more challenging for legitimate voters to cast their ballots. Senator Chuck Schumer referred to the SAVE Act as “Jim Crow 2.0,” criticizing its potential impact.
Despite these criticisms, Pence argued that while states govern the conduct of elections, the federal government has the constitutional authority to set specific conditions. He believes that the Preservation Act falls within Congress’s powers.
Last month, Pence urged Congress to adopt the bill through his advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom. In the interview, he consistently reiterated support for the SAVE America Act and urged senators to set aside political considerations and focus on restoring public trust in election integrity.
Pence’s position has drawn some backlash from Trump supporters, especially following the 2020 presidential election when he certified Joe Biden’s Electoral College win, despite Trump’s claims of widespread fraud. He notably recalled, “We all remember the election controversy six years ago,” reflecting on how states altered voting rules amidst the pandemic.
Despite noting that there was no substantial evidence of fraud affecting election outcomes, he emphasized the resulting erosion of public trust, as a significant factor driving the push for election reforms nationwide. Pence concluded by stating his firm belief in establishing voter ID as a law to ensure that all voters are indeed citizens, reinforcing that it’s “an idea whose time has come.”
