Congressional debates are raging over the SAVE America Act, an election reform bill that Trump and his allies say will increase electoral security, but that opponents argue will disenfranchise millions of voters while rigging processes in favor of the GOP. Trump is so eager to pass the bill in time for the November midterms that he has said he will refuse to sign any other legislation until it is promoted. According to the Editorial Board at the Wall Street Journal, however, not only is Trump’s basis for the bill unfounded, it “won’t save Republicans from voter anger” over the struggling economy, high cost of living, and unpopular war on Iran. In fact, it could backfire.One of the key reasons Trump gives for the bill’s necessity involves accusations of voter fraud by undocumented immigrants. “Trump insists that voter fraud is endemic,” writes the Journal editors. But “his big claims aren’t backed by hard evidence.”In fact, the evidence shows quite the opposite. As the editors point out, “Audits in a variety of places — Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Utah, Idaho — have found noncitizen voting and registration to be rare. Other states might be worse, but consider incentives: Illegal immigrants who want to stay are trying to avoid being noticed by the authorities. Green card holders have much to lose if they commit a crime.” It makes no sense that they would take such a big risk. So Trump’s reasoning for the bill isn’t based in reality, but what’s more, the editors suggest it could hurt Republicans in the long run.For example, one of the bill’s key provisions would end absentee voting by mail. But as the op-ed notes, “Many GOP states let anyone vote absentee. Do Republicans really want to endorse having the federal government overrule the election laws in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Kansas, and more?”In a more direct sense, the Journal explains how the bill could cost elections for the GOP, explaining, “The SAVE America Act wouldn’t turn blue states red, and it can’t save Republicans from voter anger at unpopular policies. In the MAGA era, the bill could even marginally hurt the GOP. Kamala Harris in 2024 won college graduates and voters earning over $100,000 a year. Mr. Trump carried those with no degrees and lower salaries. Which coalition is most likely not to have passports and birth certificates handy?”Though such concerns have been raised by many conservatives, Trump nevertheless persists in his demands that the bill be passed, even if it means nuking the filibuster – a key tool for each political party to quash legislation. But as the op-ed points out, this too could end up helping Democrats.“If Republicans do them the favor of launching a pre-emptive strike on the filibuster,” the Journal explains, “Mr. Schumer might make new states out of Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, meaning four new Democratic Senators. He might add Justices to the Supreme Court. In exchange for laying the groundwork, Republicans get . . . the SAVE America Act? No thanks.”
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