Senate Democrats blocked a key component of the SAVE America Act that, in the past, they have supported.During the wee hours of Saturday morning, Senate Republicans tried and failed to get Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his colleagues to back a stripped back voter ID bill amid a spree of last-minute legislative business.But Senate Democrats, including Schumer, have for years espoused support of identification to vote.Several states with Democratic senators have voter ID laws, too.SCHUMER, DEMOCRATS SAY THEY SUPPORT VOTER ID, THEN BLOCK GOP AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE ITU.S.
Senate Minority Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a news conference following a weekly policy luncheon with Senate Democrats at the U.S.Capitol on June 2, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)"Democrats support voter ID," Schumer said in March."In fact, we included it, and it is included, in our Freedom to Vote legislation several years ago."Schumer and his entire caucus voted against the bill from Sen.
Jon Husted, R-Ohio, nonetheless.Requiring identification is already the practice in 36 states.
Of those, 23 require photo ID, while 13 accept another form of identification, such as a bank statement.Nine of those states have Democratic senators.It was the last stand of the night for the Senate, which is gearing up to leave Washington, D.C., for several weeks of valuable campaign time in vulnerable incumbents’ home states.SENATE REPUBLICANS PUSH ELECTION DAY DEADLINE FOR CALIFORNIA'S MARATHON BALLOT COUNTSAnd it comes as Republicans have so far tried and failed to find a path forward for the SAVE America Act, which Democrats, along with a handful from the GOP, have blocked numerous times in a variety of configurations.Husted’s bill would have prohibited state and local election officials from providing a ballot to vote in federal elections unless a person provided a valid form of identification.Husted’s bill teed up a plethora of options, including an unexp...