Democrats oppose Trump-backed voter citizenship bill

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(The Center Square) – A renewed push by President Donald Trump to tighten federal voter registration rules is drawing sharp opposition from Minnesota Democrats.

Republicans argue the proposed legislation is necessary to preserve the integrity of U.S. elections.

“America’s Elections are Rigged, Stolen, and a Laughingstock all over the World,” Trump posted earlier this week on social media. “We are either going to fix them, or we won’t have a Country any longer.”

While similar acts have been repeatedly proposed by Republicans in past legislative sessions, Republicans in the U.S. Congress are once again taking up this issue as the midterm elections quickly near.

If passed, the SAVE Act would mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

While Republicans support these measures as an attempt to prevent illegal immigrants and other non-eligible voters from voting, Democrats and many advocacy groups argue this would make voting harder for everyone – including citizens.

“Under current US law, it is illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in federal or state elections,” said the League of Women Voters of Minnesota. “The requirements of the SAVE Act would unnecessarily burden many communities of eligible voters.”

U.S. Rep, Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, highlighted her concerns with the legislation in a post to social media yesterday.

“Republicans’ ‘SAVE’ Act is an attempt to rig our elections,” McCollum said. “Minnesotans do not trust the Trump administration to take over our elections, review voter rolls, or block voters from registering. Our democracy depends on all American voices being heard.”

Republicans dismiss the Democrat concerns that millions of American voters might be disenfranchised if the act passes, instead focusing on the importance of protecting the nation’s federal elections.

“Good morning, American elections should be decided by American citizens ONLY,” the White House said on Wednesday.

Others on the political right have also expressed particular concerns with the security of elections in certain states like Michigan or Minnesota.

“In Minnesota, ONE registered voter can vouch for up to EIGHT persons without an ID,” said U.S. Rep. Bryon Donalds, R-Florida, in a post to social media this week. “This is absurd. It's time to end the fraud. It's time for election integrity. It's time to PASS THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.”