Senate Republicans ‘Putting the Democrats on Record’ on Voter ID

The Feminine Virtue of Discernment

Decoupling From China on Critical Minerals Must Be a National Security Priority

16 Blue States Sue HUD to Prevent Defunding of Gender Ideology, Abortion

EXCLUSIVE: Lawmakers to Probe Whether Free Education Incentivizes Illegal Immigration

‘Largest Deportation in History’? Why the GOP Is Divided Over This Immigration Question

What to Know About Judge Who Blocked Trump Immigration Court Reform

Poll Reveals Popularity of Trump’s Iran Performance

Decoupling From China on Critical Minerals Must Be a National Security Priority

  PoliticsSecurityNews

Weaponized Immigration Methods Aimed at America

Why Chinese Communist Media Is Touting the US Constitution

China Receiving ‘Mixed Signals’ on US Operation in Iran

EXCLUSIVE: Congress Unleashes Report on How Colleges Have Become Antisemitic ‘Hotbeds’

‘VICIOUS AND NASTY’: Democrats Liken SAVE America Act to Jim Crow. But Can They Back It Up?

Senate to Be Put on Record on Voter ID Legislation

Democrat-Passed Law May Have Allowed Shooter to Enter Old Dominion Undetected

Senate Republicans ‘Putting the Democrats on Record’ on Voter ID

‘VICIOUS AND NASTY’: Democrats Liken SAVE America Act to Jim Crow. But Can They Back It Up?

What’s on Voters’ Minds? Polls Suggest These 3 Issues

Senate Passes Bipartisan Housing Package as SAVE Act Pressure Builds

Citing ‘Echo Chamber’ on Iran, Trump Counterterrorism Chief Resigns

International Commentary

‘It’s a Very Surreal War’

Netanyahu Refutes Death Rumor With Coffee Run

Hegseth: Iran’s Leader ‘Wounded and Likely Disfigured’

Beyond the Oyster Fork: An Etiquette Expert’s Tips for ‘Relationships, Work, and Life’

Is the Iran Operation ‘America First’?

 International Commentary

Russia Operating ‘Systematic Child Abduction Operation,’ EU Ambassador Says

Meet the People Fueling Chaos in Minneapolis, New York, and Beyond 

While Some Allies Hesitate, Israel Is Already in the Fight Against Iran

Victor Davis Hanson: Why Kristi Noem Failed at DHS

Victor Davis Hanson: Newsom’s Rocky Month Shows the Risks of Running on Style Over Substance

Victor Davis Hanson: Trump Laid Out America’s Comeback While Democrats Sat Silent

Senate Republicans ‘Putting the Democrats on Record’ on Voter ID

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

George Caldwell / @GCaldwell_news

George Caldwell is a correspondent for The Daily Signal. Send an email to George.

As they begin debate on the SAVE America Act—a bill requiring photo identification and proof of citizenship in federal elections—Republicans in the Senate are pursuing an unusual strategy which provides little assurance of the bill getting passed.

“We look forward to putting the Democrats on record and showing just the lack of commonsense that they apply to some of these basic issues where the American people agree with us,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said at a Tuesday press conference as he detailed a plan to hold a multi-day debate on the election bill.

“I’m looking forward to a vigorous, long, and spirited conversation on the floor of the United States Senate,” he added.

Starting today, we are going to have an important fight on the Senate floor.Polling shows broad support for all of the issues included in the SAVE America Act. But never underestimate Democrats’ ability to get on the wrong side of what the American people want. pic.twitter.com/74yYP03f2l— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) March 17, 2026

Starting today, we are going to have an important fight on the Senate floor.Polling shows broad support for all of the issues included in the SAVE America Act. But never underestimate Democrats’ ability to get on the wrong side of what the American people want. pic.twitter.com/74yYP03f2l

In essence, Republicans are simply dragging out the normal process for considering the bill.

In the first step of the process, Republicans voted Tuesday on a procedural motion to advance the House-passed bill, which required a simple majority of 51 votes.

This passed by a 51-48 margin. All Republicans voted to advance the bill except Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who voted against it, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who was absent.

All Democrats voted against advancing it.

Murkowski has argued passing the bill “would negatively impact election integrity by forcing election officials to scramble to adhere to new policies likely without the necessary resources.”

Now, Republicans are holding off on what would typically be the next step—filing cloture to end debate, an action which requires 60 votes to succeed.

Instead, they will devote multiple days to debating the bill on the Senate floor in an attempt to force Democrats out into the open on the issue.

This is a different approach than implementing a “talking filibuster,” which involves side-stepping the 60-vote requirement by forcing Democrats to speak in order to block the bill, or the “nuclear option” of changing rules to lower the number of votes required to end debate.

Republicans will also consider an amendment which would add in provisions requested by President Donald Trump, such as restrictions on mail-in ballots, transgender surgeries, and transgender participation in women’s sports.

The Senate moved to proceed to the House passed SAVE America Act. The Senate is now "on" the bill. Thune filled the amendment tree with the policy changes requested by POTUS (ban on child trans surgeries, protecting sports, etc). This blocks Democrats from being able to offer… https://t.co/M7dD2Ai5KF— Rachel Bovard (@rachelbovard) March 17, 2026

The Senate moved to proceed to the House passed SAVE America Act. The Senate is now "on" the bill. Thune filled the amendment tree with the policy changes requested by POTUS (ban on child trans surgeries, protecting sports, etc). This blocks Democrats from being able to offer… https://t.co/M7dD2Ai5KF

One unknown is how much time Republicans will be willing to spend on the matter.

“Until we win the argument” on requiring photo identification and proof of citizenship, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, told The Daily Signal.

“I think we can win the argument on those two things,” he continued. “Make the Democrats go on the floor and say, ‘No, no, no, you shouldn’t have to prove who you are.’”

Democrats have so far dug in their heels in opposition to the SAVE America, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., calling it “a voter suppression bill,” and even swing state Democrat senators such as John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joining in opposition.

Barring the unlikely defection of over a half dozen Democrats to the Republican side, the bill is likely to be blocked whenever Republicans attempt to end debate, which would require 60 votes.

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V., has doubts about the practicality of the approach.

“I would love to see it pass. You know, I hate to say this because this sounds terrible, but this provides a platform to a lot of people to get up and basically play to their constituents,” he told The Daily Signal.

He continued, “It gives [senators] an opportunity to get up on national television, propose whatever they’re proposing, however extreme it may be, look good and everything—and then at the end of the day, all they’re really doing is talking to their constituents so they can get reelected.”

‘HUGE DEAL’: Thune Pledges Election Security Vote in Senate

Democrats to ‘Disenfranchise Voters’ With Election Integrity Opposition, GOP Says

What Supermajorities of Likely Voters in Battleground States Say About SAVE America Act

The Tony Kinnett Cast

The Daily Signal Podcast

© 2025 The Daily Signal Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

We use cookies on our website. By using our website, you consent to cookies.  Learn More .  

© The Daily Signal