Vance says nationwide voter ID is 'common sense' after reporter accuses admin of 'intervening in elections'

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that requiring voter identification in federal elections is a “common sense” step to secure the integrity of the voting process, pointing to recent Senate movement on related legislation.

Speaking in Michigan, Vance addressed criticism over election policies and made it clear where the administration stands, responding to a reporter who accused the administration of "intervening in elections."

“If what you mean by ‘intervening in the election’ is that we want everybody to have a voter ID before voting in this country, yes, we should be doing that, to be clear.”

He referenced the recent Senate vote on the SAVE America Act, which he called a straightforward proposal aimed at tightening election procedures. The measure includes provisions requiring identification for participation in federal elections.

“The President and I have been working very hard, and we actually got a good vote yesterday in the United States Senate on the SAVE America Act, which is a very simple piece of legislation that does a number of things,” Vance said. “But one of the things it does is actually establish this very simple principle that if you're going to vote in a federal election, you ought to show identification before you do. So I think that's very much common sense.”

The vice president said the issue as one tied to national sovereignty and election security, arguing that safeguards are necessary to ensure public confidence in the system.

“If you believe, as I do, that the American people are sovereign in their own country, then you have to believe that their vote should be protected and the only way to fully protect their vote is to prevent fraudsters from coming and vote in American elections.”

The Senate voted 51-48 on Tuesday to open up debate on the SAVE America Act. Senator Lisa Murkowski voted against it, while Senator Thom Tillis, who had said he would vote against proceeding with the bill, missed the vote. Senator Mitch McConnell, who has told his Republican colleagues that he does not support the bill, voted alongside his fellow Republicans to begin debate.

Majority Leader John Thune said before the vote that Republicans would be "kicking off an extended debate" on the bill. During a press conference, Democrat Senator Alex Padilla said of his party, "We’re not going to let it pass. We’re going to fight it tooth and nail. We’re prepared to stay here all day and all night, or multiple days and multiple nights, and even multiple weeks if necessary to make sure the SAVE [America] Act suffers the death it deserves."

President Donald Trump has said he would not sign any bills until the chamber passes the SAVE Act, and some House members have said they would not pass most legislation that comes from the Senate until the SAVE Act is voted on.