President Trump urges Republicans to pass a voting bill requiring citizenship proof, facing Senate hurdles and criticism it may suppress turnout.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is pressuring Republicans to pass a major overhaul of voting rules before the November midterm elections.
Critics argue the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act is designed to block millions from voting to avoid Republican defeat.
The bill would require Americans to prove citizenship when registering to vote and present photo identification at the polls.
Supporters claim it strengthens election integrity, while opponents say it imposes burdensome requirements on eligible voters.
Trump told House Republicans the legislation would “guarantee the midterms” and insisted he won’t sign other bills until it passes.
“The people are demanding it,” Trump said.
Critics contend the administration hopes stricter rules reduce turnout among groups that traditionally lean Democratic.
Studies repeatedly find voter fraud occurs at very low levels in US elections.
A Brookings Institution review of decades of data found only 39 fraud cases among over 100 million ballots cast in 32 elections.
It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, leading critics to call the bill a solution seeking a problem.
The legislation has passed the House but faces steep hurdles in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated there are not enough votes to change filibuster rules to pass it with a simple majority.
Republican leaders plan a marathon Senate debate to force Democrats to publicly oppose the measure.
Opponents warn the bill would make voting harder for millions, including the elderly and lower-income Americans.
Civil rights groups argue the requirements could lead to eligible voters being turned away at the polls.
They also criticise Trump’s attempts to add unrelated provisions on mail voting and transgender issues.
