Senator from Utah defends Save America Act, says it will not disenfranchise voters

The senator speaking from the floor, identified in the transcript as the senator from Utah, urged passage of the Save America Act on the grounds that it would protect the right to vote by ensuring only U.S. citizens cast ballots in federal elections. "This legislation, once it becomes law, will not disenfranchise a single American citizen, not a single one," the senator said, defending the bill's twin goals "to make it easy to vote and we want to make it hard to cheat."

The senator outlined two principal components of the bill: a requirement that voters show a government-issued photo ID at polling places on election day to verify identity, and a proof-of-citizenship obligation at the time a voter first registers. He said current registrants need not re-register ‘‘unless or until you have some event that requires you to register again,’’ such as moving residence. To address concerns about access, the senator described a flexible list of acceptable documents and a written affidavit process intended to allow people without documentary proof to register; under that approach, a sworn attestation would shift the burden to state election officials to confirm or refute the claim.

The senator repeatedly cited the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council…