House Dems Called ‘Traitors’ Over Their New Effort
House Democrats have been labeled as “traitors” as they gear up to challenge Republicans over a bill that mandates proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections.
The House Democratic leadership is encouraging its members to oppose the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act on the House floor, as reported by Axios.
Billionaire Elon Musk criticized those against the bill in a post on his X social media platform on Friday.
“Those who oppose this are traitors. All Caps: TRAITORS. What is the penalty for traitors again?” he stated.
The SAVE Act, introduced by Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, would require voters to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. Election officials would need to verify the citizenship of new voters at the time of registration. Noncitizens would be removed from the voter rolls.
In a memo last week, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts urged her fellow Democrats to reject the bill, claiming it would impose an “extreme burden for countless Americans” and “further intimidate election officials and overburden states’ abilities to enroll new voters.”
The memo indicated that Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the Administration Committee, “strongly opposes this bill as written.”
“It’s just another way of stopping people from voting,” Morelle commented on the legislation, according to The New York Times. “I mean, they just continue to suppress the ability of people to vote.”
Conversely, Republicans produced a 22-page report in favor of the bill.
“Democrats and members of the media will tell you that noncitizens voting is not a serious problem. They’re wrong. This report debunks their claims,” House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X.
“Lax voter registration laws make it possible for noncitizens to register and vote in federal elections while campaign finance loopholes allow noncitizens to fund U.S. election activities – both of which can affect the outcome of our elections,” the report claimed.
It stated that there was “ample evidence that noncitizens are voting in U.S. elections.”
“A 2014 study that analyzed the 2008 and 2010 elections concluded that not only had noncitizens illegally voted in U.S. elections but also that the votes of noncitizens likely determined the outcome in certain races,” the report added.
A New York Post report on illegal immigrants registering to vote noted that in most states, illegal immigrants receiving welfare benefits, driver’s licenses, and other government services are automatically sent voter registration forms.
Although it is illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, there is no requirement to prove citizenship when filing a ballot application, according to the Post.
“As President Biden has welcomed millions of illegal aliens through our borders, including sophisticated criminal syndicates and foreign adversaries, it is incumbent upon Congress to implement greater enforcement measures that secure the voter registration process and ensure only American citizens decide the outcome of American elections,” Johnson stated.
In a statement about the introduction of the SAVE Act on May 8, Roy said, “Secure elections are a key cornerstone for any representative government; without them, we won’t have a country. Radical progressive Democrats know this and are using open border policies while also attacking election integrity laws to fundamentally remake America.”
Earlier this year, Ohio’s voter rolls were purged of noncitizens, but Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose indicated he needs federal assistance to perform the task thoroughly, according to a news release from his office.