Top Dems claim SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote is 'extremist'

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have referred to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, and GOP efforts to attach it to a spending bill, as "extremism." The SAVE Act would require US citizens to show proof of citizenship when they register to vote, something that 86 percent of voters agree with according to a poll from McLaughlin and Associates.

According to an email from Schumer distributed to colleagues in the Senate, the Democrat leader stated, "Democrats support a [Continuing Resolution] CR to keep the government open." He wants the spending, but not the SAVE Act.

"As I have said before, the only way to get things done is in a bipartisan way. Despite Republicans bluster, that is how we've handled every funding bill in the past, and this time should be no exception. We will not let poison pills or Republican extremism put funding for critical programs at risk."

Jeffries also said in a statement as well, "The partisan and extreme continuing resolution put forth by House Republicans is unserious and unacceptable. In order to avert a GOP-driven government shutdown that will hurt everyday Americans, Congress must pass a short-term continuing resolution that will permit us to complete the appropriations process during this calendar year and is free of partisan policy changes inspired by Trump's Project 2025."

Jeffries has previously stated that the SAVE Act is “is designed to jam people up and prevent Americans from voting.”

On Friday, the House GOP unveiled its plan to attach the SAVE Act to the spending package. House Speaker Mike Johnson said at the time, “Today, House Republicans are taking a critically important step to keep the federal government funded and to secure our federal election process," per The Hill. The bill attaches the SAVE Act to the spending package and would fund the government through March 2025.