The Trump-backed SAVE America Act failed in the U.S. Senate Thursday night, with four Republicans voting against it.
Which Republicans voted against it?
- Thom Tillis (R- North Carolina)
- Lisa Murkowski (R- Alaska)
- Mitch McConnell (R- Kentucky)
- Susan Collins (R- Maine)
What are leaders saying?
- President Trump: "Congress should unite and enact this common-sense, country-saving legislation right now and it should be before anything else happens."
The legislation would have required voters to show proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote.
As congressional primary voting is underway, the legislation would have taken effect immediately. However, the SAVE America Act has officially failed in the Senate, after President Trump has spent years pushing legislation to reduce election fraud.
"Congress should unite and enact this common-sense, country-saving legislation right now and it should be before anything else happens," Trump said during his State of the Union address, months before Thursday's vote.
Apposal to the legislation, particularly among Democrats, came from concerns that many Americans don't have access to those documents and requiring them would lessen citizens' influence to vote.
Additionally, many experts say noncitizens voting in elections happens less frequently than claimed.
"The alleged sin that it is trying to correct happens so infrequently that it really does seem like the solution would be much, much worse than the disease," Steve Vladeck, a Georgetown law professor, told NPR.
Although the legislation never passed, additional efforts may materialize soon in attempt to protect American elections.
