House Republicans are attempting to attach the SAVE Act to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would mean sending the voter ID law back to the Senate. This comes after the House has passed similar legislation repeatedly, aimed at requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to vote.
Rep. Riley Moore (R-West Virginia) expressed his frustration, noting that it’s disheartening for House members to witness the Senate’s lack of action, indicating they often feel “held hostage” by Senate inaction.
Moore emphasized that they’ve passed the Save America Act three times already and highlighted that the SAVE Act, which he terms the original version of the Voter ID bill, will now be integrated into the NDAA. This maneuver is designed so that once the NDAA is more concentrated in the House, the SAVE Act language will be included directly in the base text of the bill.
If the Senate decides to reject this language, Moore indicated that both chambers would work together to push for its reinstatement, making it challenging for senators if they want to remove it from the NDAA.
Moore believes that the onus should be on Republican senators, remarking that the Senate has a stronger Republican presence and urging them to support the NDAA alongside conservation legislation. He pointed out that “we need to vote yes on this.”
When questioned about the chances of persuading Democrats to support any part of this legislation, Moore was skeptical. He referenced California’s automatic voter registration as a troubling practice. “In California, when you get a driver’s license, you’re automatically registered to vote,” he noted, adding that individuals can acquire a driver’s license through various means, emphasizing concerns about non-citizens potentially voting.
Moore strongly believes that the federal government should ensure that “the American people are voting.” He expressed disappointment at the idea that Republicans might falter in adhering to this principle, implying that it reflects poorly on the party.
Differentiating between the SAVE Act and the Save America Act, he explained that the former mainly targets voter ID, while the latter encompasses both voter ID and mail-in voting issues.
On the topic of mail-in voting, Moore criticized Democrats for undermining trust in elections, notably due to extended vote-counting periods. He questioned the credibility of results that take weeks or even months, contrasting this with India, where election results are available swiftly, even with a population over a billion.
“It doesn’t make sense,” he stated, sharing his lack of confidence in California’s voting results, saying that delays only deepen doubts about the election process.
Furthermore, Moore called out fellow Republicans who claim that a focus on election integrity might deter voter turnout. “They’re the ones hurting Republican enthusiasm and turnout,” he remarked, linking it back to diminishing confidence in the electoral process. He asked, “Why would voters show up if they’re uncertain about the validity of their vote?”
Moore asserted that maintaining election integrity is a significant concern for Republican voters, describing it as a “core theme” for their success in 2024. He argued that this issue should be a consistent topic at events throughout the country.
“This is going to be a top issue for any Republican you talk to,” he concluded, noting that the apprehensions stretch across the Republican spectrum, including those who wonder why accomplishing this is still a challenge.
