Trump’s (R) push to Eliminate Voting-by-Mail without Excuses such as Illness or Military Duty, a Component of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, has put Him on a Collision Course with Republicans from States where Absentee Voting is Widespread and Popular. The SAVE America Act’s Core Reform would be to Require People to Show Documented Proof of Citizenship, such as a Birth Certificate or Passport, when Registering to Vote. But the U.S. already has this. The U.S. now uses the Real ID Driver Licence or State ID.
But Language to Dramatically Restrict Voting-by-Mail is becoming a Sticking Point with some Republicans. Senate Republican say that Trump’s Last-Minute push to Strengthen the Bill by adding Provisions such as Eliminating No-Excuse Absentee Voting, but there may Not be enough Votes to Proceed to the Bill. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have already Signaled they Won’t Vote to Proceed to the Legislation, and GOP Aides say there are Other Senators whose Votes are in Question, including Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and John Curtis (R-Ut).
Republicans from Rural States are Concerned that Eliminating Mail-in-Voting for People unless they have strong Excuses like serious Illness, Disability, Military Duty, Living outside the U.S. or Travel, will Hurt GOP-leaning Voters in Remote areas, Who then would be Forced to Travel Long Distances to Vote.
Trump laid out His Demands for the SAVE America Act, in a Truth Social Ppost on March 9th. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) says He will Offer Trump’s Proposed Changes to the Bill in an Amendment. Aside from Concerns about Eliminating No-Excuse Absentee Voting for Millions of Americans, some Republicans, such as McConnell, are Skeptical about Legislation that would Strengthen the Federal Government’s Role in Managing Elections, something the Constitution largely leaves to the States.
The Senator said McConnell “doesn’t like the bill at all” but “may vote to get on it.” “I’m expecting him to be a ‘no.’” the Lawmaker added. “Some Republicans are concerned about this, definitely. That provision is getting a lot of blowback in the conference,” said. The Source Wwarned the Vote to Pproceed to the Bill “could fail” despite Trump’s Strong Push to Overhaul Voting Rules before the Midterm Elections. “There’s a real question whether the motion to proceed could get 51,” the Source added. “With all this new stuff Trump is trying to add in, it’s p‑‑‑ed off Murkowski, Tillis” and others.
Tillis said last week that He Plans to Vote against Proceeding the SAVE America Act, even though He Noted He was a Co-Sponsor of the Bill. “I’m a no because we don’t have a plan. There’s no path for success. I was a no on the talking filibuster path, and this one is going to produce the same result,” He Said of the Plan to bring the Bill to the Floor with a Simple-Majority Vote and Debate it as Long as Possible. Tillis, who Represents a State that Allows No-Excuse Vvoting-by-Mail, also said the Legislation’s Mail-in-Ballot Provisions need “work.”
“I’m a co-sponsor of the bill, the bill needs work. Like the mail-in ballot [language]. We need to have absentee ballots,” He added. “I’m against just mailing [absentee ballots] to everybody whether they requested something or not. Maybe we need a best-practice for mail-in voting, that’s one example of what I think is flawed policy in the bill.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) doesn’t want to Force Democrats to Wage a Talking Filibuster, which would Require them to Hold the loor with continuous Debate, to Block the Vill. So that means there’s No Clear Path to Advance the Legislation unless Republicans can Somehow Convince a Group of Seven to 10 Democrats to Vote for the lLgislation, which is Highly Unlikely. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) on Monday, Announced All Democrats will Oppose the Bill when it comes to the Floor Tuesday.
“Not a single Democrat will support the SAVE Act. It is a radical bill. And if Republicans try to burn time on this legislation here on the floor, we will oppose them for as long as it takes,” He Declared. Schumer Highlighted the Bill’s Effort to Narrow Voting by Mail, a possible Attempt to Pick-Off Republican Support for the Measure.
“Now Trump says he does not even want vote-by-mail. Tell that to Seniors. Tell that to disabled Americans. Tell that to Americans who live in rural communities far from an election office,” He said on the Senate floor. One Republican Source said Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) has Privately raised Concerns about Eliminating Absentee Voting because of the Impact on Voters in Large, Sparsely Populated States.
Republican Officials have tried to Close the Gap with Democrats by Promoting Vote-by-Mail in States such as: Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, ahead of this year’s Midterm Election. Utah, a GOP Stronghold, is One of several States with All-Mail Elections. Its Lieutenant Governor, Deidre Henderson (R), is Pushing-Back against the Trump Department of Justice’s (DOJ) effort to obtain Utah’s Complete Voter Database.
Curtis Praised Voting-by-Mmail in 2025 during a Discussion at the Sutherland Institute’s 2025 Congressional Series, which was Hosted by the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics.
Curtis noted that while Voting-by-Mail is Controversial on the National Level, it’s Popular in Utah, adding, “I have just love mail-in ballots” for the Convenience they Provide for Studying Candidates and Issues with a Ballot at the Ready, according to a Synopsis provided by the Sutherland Institute. Republican Represented Swing States such as: North Carolina, Maine, Ohio and Pennsylvania, allow Bo-Excuse Absentee Voting, as do a wide swath of GOP States in the Midwest and West, including: North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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