‘Protect our democracy’: Republicans pursue backup plan for SAVE America Act, which is hated by Dems

The SAVE America Act would require identification for registering to vote, and for voting. It has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives but is facing headwinds in the Senate where a 60-vote filibuster rule would require at least some support from Democrats.

They, however, are adamant that dead voters be left on voter rolls, that voting plans that prevent illegal aliens from voting be killed and more. Workarounds haven’t been making much progress.

But it all is going to come to a head soon as President Donald Trump recently promised not to sign any other legislation until that can become law.

However, in the meantime, Republicans are working on a backup.

It is outlined in a report in the Washington Examiner which explains the Republican National Committee is working on more than 100 legal cases in 30 states about voter ID laws, election administration, noncitizen voting and mail-in ballots.

The work could provide much of what would be provided in the SAVE America Act, but would not depend on congressional vote, the report said.

“We’re fighting to uphold commonsense measures backed by over 80% of Americans: accurate voter rolls, voter ID, stronger mail-in ballot security, and ensuring only American citizens vote. This is about protecting the ballot box and restoring trust in our elections,” explained Ally Triolo, the RNC’s election integrity communications chief.

SAVE America would require an ID to cast a ballot and proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Democrats literally have said they never will support such election integrity ideas. They claim it will prevent married women from voting as they often change their last names on marriage.

“We are doing through a judicial, piecemeal approach — which is what’s available to us — what the SAVE Act is trying to do through legislation, which is to defend these laws,” another RNC official told the publication.

One looming case is Watson v. RNC, in which the national committee is suing to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after the election is over, which constitutionally is at the end of Election Day.

That’s before the Supreme Court now.

In Arizona, the RNC wants a review of a circuit court decision that canceled a proof-of-citizenship requirement to vote.

“Over two decades ago, Arizona voters overwhelmingly approved a commonsense law requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote,” said Joe Gruters, RNC chief, when the case was announced.

“Federal law is clear: only U.S. citizens have the right to vote in American elections. The RNC will never stop fighting to protect our democracy and the integrity of every Arizona voter’s ballot.”

Democrats say such election integrity measures threaten “free and fair elections.”