The debate over the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship for voter registration and proof of identification to cast a ballot, is currently stalled in Congress. It may remain stuck for some time. Congressional Democrats seem to be employing the strategy of opposing Republicans by slamming their heads on a desk, but they still have enough votes to create challenges.
With all that going on, it’s good to see that some states – red states – are acting on their own to get some of these election reforms in place.
Six states are likely to vote on new measures this fall that echo President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority. Republican lawmakers in Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia have put various citizenship-related amendments on the ballot.
Honestly, this is about as constitutional as it gets. Our founding document gives most election-related powers to the states, though Congress also retains some overarching authority under Article I, Section IV:
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
But because Democrats care more about their illegal alien voting base than election integrity and trying to win on ideas rather than cheating, states aren’t sitting around waiting:
In West Virginia, the most recent state to put a measure on the ballot, the amendment would change the state’s constitution from saying “citizens of the state shall be entitled to vote,” to “only citizens of the state who are citizens of the United States are entitled to vote.”
GOP Secretary of State Kris Warner said the change would prevent local officials from allowing noncitizens to vote in those races, but he conceded to WVNews that noncitizen voting is not a major issue in the state.
“It is an issue,” Warner said of noncitizens casting ballots in the state. “Would I tell you it’s a huge issue? I’m not going to say that.”
But isn’t it a huge issue? And here’s the thing: Why a “ballot issue”? West Virginia has a legislature that was elected by the people; it’s not a ‘democracy’ where issues are decided by ‘popular vote.’ Let the legislature pass the legislation and get it done. But I digress.
Here’s the situation: The numbers shouldn’t be the main focus. This issue is about principle. Principles are not based on numbers, statistics, or percentages; they are constant. If it is wrong for a non-citizen to vote in an American election, then it is always wrong, no matter the circumstances. Whether it’s one non-citizen or a million non-citizens voting, it remains wrong.
That’s the essence of principles.
It’s perplexing to think that anyone would question the need for showing an ID to vote. Many aspects of our daily lives require an ID, whether it’s buying a bottle of alcohol or applying for a mortgage.
The SAVE Act could address many of these concerns, but it’s currently stalled in the Senate. Meanwhile, red states are taking action. This situation is progressing one way or another, but as long as blue states continue to make it easier for election fraud to occur, ensuring election integrity will still require Congress to intervene.