A nationwide survey of 1,000 general election voters found strong majorities support the central provisions of the SAVE America Act and want the Senate to continue pursuing the legislation before the midterm elections.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
More than eight in 10 American voters believe only U.S. citizens should participate in federal elections, while substantial majorities also support requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo identification at the polls, according to a new survey examining public attitudes toward the SAVE America Act.
The poll, conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for Tea Party Patriots Action, surveyed 1,000 general election voters on July 22. Its findings showed support for several election-integrity requirements across Republican, independent and Democratic respondents.
Eighty-two percent of those surveyed agreed that voting in elections for president, U.S. senator and members of Congress should be limited to American citizens.
More than three-quarters supported requiring people to prove U.S. citizenship before registering to vote. That position was backed by 94% of Republicans, 73% of independents and 68% of Democrats, according to the survey.
The findings also showed that most respondents rejected the argument that voter-identification requirements would prevent eligible Americans from participating because obtaining identification is too difficult. Sixty-six percent disagreed with that contention, while 29% characterized an identification mandate as an “unfair barrier.”
The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of citizenship during voter registration, mandate photo identification for voting, close provisions in current law that allow registration without citizenship documentation and direct states to compare voter rolls with federal records to identify potentially registered noncitizens.
After respondents were given a description of the legislation, 55.5% said senators should continue trying to pass it before the upcoming midterm elections. Another 34.1% said the chamber should abandon the effort for the remainder of the year.
The wording presented to respondents stated: “It requires proof of citizenship to register to vote, it requires photo identification when voting, it fixes problems in current law that allow people to register to vote without proving citizenship, and it requires states to check their voter rolls against federal government records to identify noncitizens who may be registered.”
The survey description also said the legislation had already passed the Senate, although the question then asked whether the Senate should continue working to approve it before the midterms. The polling material as submitted did not explain that apparent inconsistency.
Pollsters separately examined concerns that proof-of-citizenship rules could create difficulties for married women whose current legal names differ from those appearing on their birth certificates.
Respondents were told that, under the bill’s current language, a woman in that situation could sign a brief statement confirming that the name on the citizenship document was her former name rather than being required to provide additional paperwork.
After receiving that explanation, 62% said the proof-of-citizenship requirement was reasonable rather than an unfair impediment to voting.
Tea Party Patriots Action Chairman Jenny Beth Martin said the results demonstrated that the bill’s central provisions appeal to voters beyond the Republican Party.
“The SAVE America Act is rightfully at the top of President Trump’s domestic agenda,” Martin said. “Our poll shows that an overwhelming majority of American voters – including a strong majority of Democrats – support proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote and showing voter ID when casting a ballot.”
President Donald Trump has continued urging Congress to approve the legislation, particularly following a Supreme Court ruling involving mail-in ballots.
“Because of the mail-in ballot ruling — which was a little bit surprising, gives people more time to vote illegally — the SAVE Act is even more important. … You have to be a citizen of our country, okay, you have to show you’re a citizen of our country, called citizenship,” Trump said earlier this month.
“Voter ID by photo, photo voter ID, and no mail-in ballots — unless you’re in the military, disabled, you’re ill, or you’re away even on a vacation, we’re being very open about it. It’s pretty easy, and we’ll have honest elections.”
Trump again promoted the bill during a White House address last week focused on what he described as weaknesses in the nation’s election system.
The president said the only reason lawmakers would oppose the SAVE America Act is if “you want to cheat, because your policies are so bad and your candidates are so pathetic that you can’t get away or can’t get elected any other way.”
“This landmark bill requires that all voters must show photo voter ID,” Trump added. “How simple is that? Could I have your photo, please? Photo voter ID. All voters must provide proof of citizenship.”
The polling results arrive as Trump and conservative senators increase pressure on congressional leaders to advance the legislation before lawmakers leave Washington and before the midterm elections.
Supporters argue that citizenship documentation, identification requirements and federal voter-roll checks are necessary to reinforce public confidence and prevent noncitizens from being registered. Opponents have argued that the requirements could make registration more difficult for eligible voters who lack immediate access to the necessary documents.
The McLaughlin & Associates findings indicate that most voters surveyed considered those requirements reasonable, including majorities within each of the three principal political groups measured.
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