(The Center Square) – Enhanced integrity of elections via a federal proposal will be a rallying point Friday in North Carolina.
Only Citizens Vote, a tour bus campaign in support of the SAVE Act that has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, rolls into Raleigh at the Legislative Building on Jones Street as the Labor Day weekend commences.
Speakers begin at 11 a.m.
“Tea Party Patriots Action is proud to be conducting an ambitious, nationwide bus tour to rally support for the SAVE Act as necessary legislation to enhance the integrity of our elections,” said Jenny Beth Martin, honorary chairwoman of the group. “The House passed the SAVE Act on April 10, with every Republican and four Democrats voting for it. However, in order for the bill to become law, we need the Senate to pass it – and that means we’ll need at least seven Democrat votes. In order to do that, congressional leaders should attach the SAVE Act to ‘must-pass’ legislation when it reconvenes in September.
“During our bus tour, we will be recruiting Americans to sign a petition urging congressional leaders to adopt that strategy. We will present those petitions to members of Congress at our Capitol Hill rally on Sept. 10.”
The tour started in California and will wind up in the nation’s capital.
Only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote; the distinction this proposal makes is in enforcement by the states. Few states collect and document, and voter list maintenance varies.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as House Resolution 22, was authored by Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy. Identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 is among multiple documents acceptable as proof. States are required to provide “an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship,” the bill’s summary says on Congress.gov.
Noncitizens are to be removed from eligibility on state voter rolls, the bill says.
Republican Reps. Dr. Greg Murphy, Virginia Foxx, Addison McDowell, David Rouzer, Rev. Mark Harris, Richard Hudson, Pat Harrigan, Chuck Edwards, Brad Knott and Tim Moore were in favor at the 220-208 passage in the House. Democratic Reps. Alma Adams, Don Davis, Valerie Foushee and Deborah Ross stayed party line as well.
President Donald Trump campaigned on the issue and has signaled he would sign if it reached his desk.
Context on the discussion of women losing their right to vote if it becomes law is based on legal name changes through marriage and divorce. A U.S. passport as well as government-issued photo ID card, such as a driver’s license presented with a birth certificate, are acceptable.
Ross says the SAVE Act disenfranchises more than 2 million women in North Carolina and nearly 69 million nationwide. Through Saturday, the State Board of Elections says more than 3.7 million women are registered.
“The SAVE Act is a blatant attempt by Republicans to roll back voting rights in North Carolina and across the country – especially women, service members, Americans in rural communities, and voters of color,” said Ross, the third term representative from the 2nd Congressional District in the Triangle.
Harris counters, “In America, you can’t drive a car, board a plane, or buy fireworks without an ID proving you are who you say you are. Requiring proof of citizenship to vote is just common sense.”
