The Illinois House Ethics & Elections Committee held discussions this week concerning potential consequences of President Donald Trump's SAVE Act.
The administration and congressional Republicans hope to require Americans show a passport or their birth certificate when they register to vote or renew their registration. Many non-partisan organizations have criticized the idea.
Illinois House Republicans argued the legislation could prevent voter fraud and potential swings in election results. GOP Representative Patrick Windhorst from Metropolis shared data from a study conducted by the Electoral Studies publication surrounding the 2008 and 2010 elections.
"In the 2008 election, their estimate was that 6.4% of non-citizens voted in the 2008 General Election. Their estimate was that was enough to swing the state of North Carolina from John McCain to Barack Obama. Their estimate was that was enough to provide the Senate democrats with their 60th vote. That was enough to defeat this filibuster after the 2008 election."
Windhorst said, gathering from the opponents he heard testify this week, they believe there is no problem, nothing to address, nothing to see here, let’s just move on.
The SAVE Act has been passed by the U.S House but faces an uphill battle in the U.S. Senate, where it would need support from at least seven Democrats to pass.
