Senate Republicans ‘Putting the Democrats on Record’ on Voter ID
Trust is earned, not demanded.
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.
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) March 17, 2026
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…
— Rachel Bovard (@rachelbovard) March 17, 2026
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 …
Trust is earned, not demanded.
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.
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) March 17, 2026
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…
— Rachel Bovard (@rachelbovard) March 17, 2026
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 …
Senate Republicans ‘Putting the Democrats on Record’ on Voter ID
Trust is earned, not demanded.
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.
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) March 17, 2026
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…
— Rachel Bovard (@rachelbovard) March 17, 2026
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 …
