Here we go again: Four Senate Republicans joined forces with the Democrats Thursday night to kill passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. Requiring an ID to vote shouldn’t be a controversial issue — an overwhelming majority of Americans support the idea — and yet we seem to be right back where we started.
The vote was 48-50 on an amendment proposed by South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham to attach SAVE to the budget reconciliation package currently being negotiated by lawmakers. But even with Republicans holding the Oval Office, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, the SAVE America Act remains just an idea, not a law:
🚨 BREAKING: The US Senate has just REJECTED the SAVE America Act as part of budget reconciliation, 48-50 — would've required voter ID and proof of citizenship nationwide
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 4, 2026
REPUBLICAN NAYs: Thom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins
UNBELIEVABLE!!
It needed… pic.twitter.com/sTCsOgn4B3
🚨 BREAKING: The US Senate has just REJECTED the SAVE America Act as part of budget reconciliation, 48-50 — would've required voter ID and proof of citizenship nationwide
REPUBLICAN NAYs: Thom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins
UNBELIEVABLE!!
It needed 60 votes.
Why can't the Senate pass what over 80% of Americans want?!
MORE: That Thing That Never Happens Just Happened Again—Feds Charge Multiple Aliens With Illegally Voting
GOP Rep. Tim Burchett (TN-02) asked the key question: Why would you do this? He also had an answer:
Why would you do this unless you wanted to cheat. https://t.co/unymBF4EBV
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) June 5, 2026
Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said there is simply no reason not to pass the SAVE America Act, and he implored lawmakers to keep on fighting for it despite this latest setback.
There’s NO valid argument against the SAVE America Act.
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) June 4, 2026
My bill would make it easy to vote.
And hard to cheat.
As soon as DHS is fully funded (as it should be within 48 hours), the Senate should resume consideration of it—and stay on the bill until it passes.
Pass it on.… https://t.co/PzHvOIf5bQ
There’s NO valid argument against the SAVE America Act.
My bill would make it easy to vote.
And hard to cheat.
As soon as DHS is fully funded (as it should be within 48 hours), the Senate should resume consideration of it—and stay on the bill until it passes.
Pass it on.
President Trump weighed in on the matter and thanked Graham for putting the issue up for a vote:
I’d like to thank our GREAT Senator, Lindsey Graham, for putting up THE SAVE AMERICA ACT for a Vote today. It states that:
ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PHOTO I.D. (IDENTIFICATION!).
ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP.
NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS (EXCEPT FOR ILLNESS, DISABILITY, MILITARY, OR TRAVEL!).
NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.
NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION SURGERY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
This Tuesday, June 9th, all Republicans in South Carolina should vote for Lindsey Graham — HE HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT, AND WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Note: the transgender language is not in the original SAVE America Act, and is contained in proposed amendments that Trump backs.
Graham and Trump have clashed in the past, but they apparently see eye to eye on this one. When 83 percent of Americans support something, isn’t it far past time to get it done?
Editor’s Note: Republicans are fighting for election integrity by requiring proper identification to vote.
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