Scott Presler counters Lisa Murkowski's assertions about the SAVE Act

Scott Pressler Responds to Sen. Murkowski’s Stance on the SAVE America Act

This week, conservative activist Scott Pressler voiced his disagreement with Senator Lisa Murkowski’s op-ed, where she expressed concerns that the SAVE America Act would disenfranchise rural Alaskans and would not be ready for implementation by November.

Murkowski stated that she supports voter ID laws and believes only U.S. citizens should be voting. However, she criticized the proposed bill for going too far. In her post on X, she emphasized the lack of time for proper enforcement of the legislation.

“I support voter ID and believe only American citizens should vote in elections,” Murkowski wrote. “But the SAVE America Act goes beyond that and has not been given time for proper enforcement. I oppose it because it will ultimately disenfranchise some rural Americans,” she added.

In her op-ed, she claimed the bill would effectively eliminate online registration by requiring in-person submission of documents proving citizenship, which poses a challenge for Alaskan voters living in remote areas. She noted there are only six election offices in the state, with many communities lacking road access. For instance, she mentioned a young resident from Savonga might have to spend over $1,000 on travel just to register.

Pressler, however, disagreed with her assessment. In a response, he stated, “That’s simply not true. No one will be denied a vote. Anyone without documentation can sign an attestation. The SAVE America Act does not require proof of citizenship from those who are already registered to vote.”

The founders of Early Vote Action suggested that Murkowski draft amendments to the bill rather than pursue its repeal. Pressler proposed an amendment that would let remote Alaskan voters include a copy of their citizenship certificate and photo ID with their absentee ballots.

He also critiqued the argument regarding the Senate’s timeline, pointing out that there are months available for action. “It’s completely disingenuous to say we don’t have time to implement the SAVE America Act when we could have passed it last year,” he remarked, mentioning his plan to visit Alaska to hear from residents directly.

This exchange takes place as the SAVE America Act faces stagnation in the Senate, having not progressed since the House approved it in February. Murkowski was the only Republican to oppose initiating a debate on the bill in March and collaborated with other senators to prevent it from being included in an immigration funding package.