Leader Schumer Remarks Denouncing The Dangerous Republican SAVE Act That Would Disenfranchise Voters And Stymie Free And Fair Elections

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the importance of preserving free and fair elections in light of the dangerous, Republican-backed SAVE Act, which would undermine American democracy. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:

Well, we know that free and fair elections are the wellspring of American democracy. When you ask people around the world what's great about America, this is one of the things, the first things, they say. They say we have elections, real elections, free elections.

But unfortunately, deeply unfortunately, no administration has come closer to destroying that wellspring than the Trump administration.

Donald Trump and Republicans are putting our elections in a vice grip – executive orders from the president on one end, and dangerous legislation from Congress on the other.

They don't understand the sacredness of elections and keeping them fair. The kind of legislation, the kind of executive orders which are so jaundiced, so slanted on the side of one party, are the antithesis of democracy.

On the one side, Donald Trump recently issued an Executive Order that will coerce states to prevent millions of Americans from voting.

On the other, Republicans in Congress are pushing the SAVE Act, one of the most destructive, dangerous voter suppression bills in recent memory. It is very reminiscent of Jim Crow.

That's what Republicans want to do. They not only want to restore Jim Crow in the south, they want to have Jim Crow spread from one end of this country to the other. It will not happen.

Let me be clear: I will not let this noxious bill, the SAVE Act, become law. Every single Democrat is united against it. They need 60 votes. The SAVE Act is dead on arrival.

I'd like to say it louder so my friends in the House and the right wing can hear. The SAVE Act is dead on arrival.

Democrats and Americans see this bill for what it really is: a nasty, vicious attack on our democracy.

The SAVE Act reads more like a how-to guide for voter suppression, rather than a serious attempt to secure our elections.

The SAVE Act would make easy methods of voter registration – like online registration, registration by mail, and registration drives – a thing of the past.

Massive purges would inevitably remove American citizens from voter rolls.

And it is already wholly unnecessary. Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections.

It's done with one purpose in mind: voter suppression. They think that those who vote Democratic are less likely to vote than Republicans if this passes. It's trying to slant the elections away from free and fair.

Every single state already prohibits noncitizens from voting in state elections.

So, Republicans are trying to strip our democracy down to its studs, all to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.

Under the SAVE Act, if you want to register to vote, or if you want to simply update your registration, it would be harder than it is right now.

Because on top of your ID card, you’ll need to also provide either your passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate.

So, if you’re one of the 50% of American citizens without a passport, or one of 21 million American citizens who don’t have access to your birth or citizenship certificate, Republicans want to make it harder, not easier, for you to vote.

If you’re one of the 69 million Americans who changed your name after you got married, and your certificates no longer don’t match your current name, or if you moved recently and changed addresses, Republicans want to make it harder for you to vote.

It’s one unnecessary hurdle after another after another.

We know the SAVE Act is not about securing our elections. It’s about suppressing voters.

It’s about making it harder to vote and easier to cheat.

It is despicable. It is damaging. It is beyond damaging.

It goes against the very foundations of our democracy.

Democrats will never, never allow the SAVE Act to become law.

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