The president’s efforts to require voters to document their citizenship is apparently dead thanks to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Murkowski, who claims to be a Republican, said in a Wall Street Journal op-ed she won’t support the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, confirming she can’t be swayed.
“While I support the bill’s core tenets – ensuring that only American citizens vote and requiring identification when voting – I remain opposed to it,” Murkowski wrote after President Trump pleaded with the Senate to pass it.
The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, limited forms of ID to cast ballots and would considerably scale back if not eliminate mail-in ballot voting.
Alaska Natives normally rely on tribal identification, which under the bill wouldn’t work for most election purposes, Murkowski said.
She also noted that many Alaskans rely on mail-in voting given the unpredictability of weather there.
But if Trump’s version of the SAVE America Act bill passed, it would eliminate absentee voting except in a narrow set of circumstances involving military deployment and illness.
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board said that Trump’s speech Thursday night may have actually been counterproductive, particularly for voters.
“Unfortunately, the message from Mr. Trump and others has been that America’s elections can’t be trusted, and the only hope is the SAVE America Act,” the board said in a July 17 editorial. “Aside from being untrue, this is a political backfire for the GOP.”
Trump supporters are now calling for Murkowski to be primaried in 2028.
The president has said that he will not sign any more legislation into law until Congress passes the bill.
A House budget bill to fund the voter ID push included $12 billion in farm aid but even that sweetener isn’t expected to help Trump, despite Vice President JD Vance’s claims to the contrary.
Alaska does have some specific voting challenges. Perhaps the federal and state governments should work together?
I lived in the UK for many years and the FVAC system (for armed forces serving abroad and expats) was well designed. I would say it was also secure as it required a strict initial verification system (which took a bit of effort downloading birth certs etc – cry babies alert) and then you have to re register each year (or you can’t vote that year).
Alaska Natives should be given a means to vote. They have always been here. Unlike the absolutely corrupt vote harvesting in mosques up and down this country, where women are truly discriminated against and non citizens’ votes prop up their Democrat enablers (at real Mainers expense).
“While I support the bill’s core tenets…” COWPIES! This is just the latest excuse to vote against what she opposes but doesn’t have the guts to admit she opposes. RINO!
Sounds like a good reason to boycott everything Alaska. From King Crab to tourism.Personally,I will send bucks to any Republican who runs against this friend of Collins and fellow RINO.
“Alaska Natives normally rely on tribal identification, which under the bill wouldn’t work for most election purposes, Murkowski said.”
Why are the Indians exempt from the Real ID charade that the rest of us had to go through?!? Why isn’t this a violation of OUR 14th amendment rights to due process and equal protection?!?
And I think Trump should play hardball here and actually VETO every bill until he gets the SAFE act passed. Not just refuse decide anything, but to outright veto it knowing that there aren’t enough rhinos in Congress to get the 2/3 majority of both houses.
I was for it before I was against it…. So are alaska natives americans? or the weathers too cold to go out and vote but warm enough for the mailman to pick it up? That’s the best you got?
Its despicable to compare that whole race of people to southern democrats who are apparently, according to their leaders to dumb to get ID. Resign lisa, no one belives your bullshit anymore. Take collins with you.
the democraps favorite senator.
Wouldn’t you just love to walk up and SLAP that woman ?
THAT is just exactly what she needs !
This woman is best friends with Susan Commie Collins.
Fact