WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., took to the Senate floor Thursday to forcefully defend the SAVE America Act, arguing the legislation is necessary to “restore America’s trust” in its elections and close what he described as dangerous vulnerabilities in the current system.
In prepared remarks delivered in support of legislation introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, McCormick rejected what he called “hysteria, hyperbole, and, sadly, falsehoods” surrounding the bill, insisting the debate has drifted away from what he framed as a fundamental issue: ensuring that only eligible citizens vote.
“I consider myself uniquely qualified when I say every vote matters,” McCormick said, pointing to his narrow 2022 statewide loss in Pennsylvania by 950 votes and his 2024 victory by 15,000 votes out of nearly 7 million cast. “These incredibly narrow races … show just how important it is that our elections run smoothly, fairly, and that only legitimate votes are counted.”
The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and mandate government-issued photo identification when casting a ballot. It would also direct states to conduct regular reviews of voter rolls to remove noncitizens and impose penalties on election officials who register noncitizens in violation of federal law.
McCormick cited election issues in Pennsylvania as evidence of broader concerns, referencing a situation in Chester County in which, he said, 70,000 third-party voters were mistakenly omitted from voter rolls. “Every time Americans hear about election problems like Chester County’s, they rightly question the integrity of our electoral process,” he said.
According to McCormick, public concern over election security remains high. He referenced a Scripps and Ipsos poll indicating that more than half of Americans are concerned about noncitizens voting and fear electoral fraud.
Federal law already limits voting in federal elections to U.S. citizens. However, McCormick argued that existing rules do not sufficiently require proof of citizenship at registration. He cited Department of Homeland Security figures stating that more than 10 million illegal immigrants entered the country during the previous administration and that at least 22 million noncitizens reside in the United States. In 19 states, he said, noncitizens can obtain driver’s licenses, which in some cases are tied to automatic voter registration systems.
“It is now incumbent on Congress to close this loophole,” McCormick said. “We must secure the fundamental principle that voting is a right reserved only for American citizens.”
Opponents of stricter voter ID laws have long argued such measures risk disenfranchising eligible voters, particularly those without easy access to documentation. McCormick addressed those concerns directly, stating the bill includes alternate documentation options and state verification processes designed to protect eligible voters.
He also pushed back against claims of federal overreach, citing Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress authority to alter regulations governing federal elections. “The SAVE America Act does NOT federalize our elections,” he said. “It merely creates a mechanism to verify that state elections comply with existing law.”
McCormick pointed to bipartisan history on election integrity, referencing a 2005 commission led by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker that recommended voter ID reforms. He also cited a Pew Research Center poll showing 95% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats support voter ID requirements.
“If an 80–20 issue such as this cannot get 60 votes in our 100-person chamber, something is amiss,” McCormick said.
The Pennsylvania Republican concluded by urging colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the measure, framing the legislation as essential to restoring faith in the democratic process.
“We have an opportunity, in this Congress, to remove deep vulnerabilities in our elections and restore America’s trust in this core function of our Republic,” McCormick said. “I can think of few things more important than that.”
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