The Senate majority leader says lawmakers intend to bring the election-related legislation to the floor next week, though the bill faces uncertain prospects under current voting rules.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said lawmakers plan to hold a vote next week on the SAVE America Act, a measure focused on election procedures that would require voter identification and proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Speaking to reporters, Thune confirmed the legislation is expected to be scheduled for consideration in the coming days, although the procedural path for the vote remains under discussion.
“We’re discussing the manner and process by which it comes to the floor, but it is the intention to have it up next week,” Thune said in comments reported by the Washington Examiner.
The South Dakota Republican declined to clarify whether the measure would be subject to the Senate’s typical 60-vote threshold required to advance most legislation. If that standard is applied, the bill could face difficulty securing enough support to pass.
The proposal would establish federal requirements that voters provide identification and proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.
Thune also addressed questions about whether Senate Republicans might attempt to bypass the 60-vote threshold through a “talking filibuster,” a tactic that could allow legislation to move forward with a simple majority if sustained long enough.
However, he said the party currently lacks sufficient support within its own ranks to pursue that approach.
“We don’t have the votes either to proceed, get on a talking filibuster, nor to sustain one if we got on it,” Thune said during a press conference earlier in the day.
The issue has drawn criticism from some conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups who want Senate Republicans to push more aggressively for passage of the legislation.
In a post on social media, the House Freedom Caucus criticized the strategy, arguing that bringing the measure forward under the 60-vote requirement would effectively prevent the bill from becoming law.
“If Thune plans to kill the SAVE America Act by bringing it to the floor at the 60-vote threshold, he isn’t fooling anybody,” the group wrote. “Americans don’t want performance theater. They want @SenateGOP to actually fight for them by using the talking filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act.”
The legislation has also drawn attention from President Donald Trump, who has described the measure as a priority for his administration.
Trump told House Republicans earlier this week that passage of the bill is his “No. 1 priority,” and he has indicated he would withhold approval from other legislation until the SAVE America Act reaches his desk.
Thune said he understands the president’s interest in the issue but emphasized the constraints imposed by Senate rules and vote counts.
“I understand the president’s got a passion to see this issue addressed, as we all do,” Thune said. “For better or worse, I’m the one who has to be a clear-eyed realist about what we can achieve here.”
The upcoming vote is expected to highlight divisions within Congress over election policy and Senate procedures as lawmakers debate how best to advance the proposal.
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