Republican voting bill revives national voter ID requirement

Republican voting bill returns with new name

A Republican-led voting overhaul bill has been reintroduced in Congress. The legislation, now called the American Confidence in Elections Act, revives a previous GOP proposal known as the American Elections Act.

The new version includes a national voter photo identification requirement. Democrats and voting rights advocates argue the bill would create significant barriers to voting for millions of Americans.

Key provisions of the proposed law

The legislation mandates that voters present a photo ID in federal elections. It also seeks to ban non-citizen voting in Washington, D.C., and end the District's same-day voter registration.

Other major provisions include:

• Prohibiting the use of private donations for election administration, a practice critics call "Zuckerbucks."
• Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
• Directing states to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls.

House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, the bill's lead sponsor, stated the goal is to "restore confidence" in elections. Democrats contend the bill is a solution in search of a problem, as voter fraud is exceedingly rare.

Democrats mount fierce opposition

Opponents say the bill would disproportionately disenfranchise minority, elderly, low-income, and disabled voters. They argue these groups are less likely to possess the required forms of photo identification.

"This bill is a blatant attempt to make it harder for Americans to vote, plain and simple," said Rep. Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee. The legislation is expected to pass the Republican-controlled House but faces certain blockage in the Democratic-led Senate.

A long-running political battle

The fight over voting rules has intensified since the 2020 election. Many Republican-led states have passed laws tightening ID requirements and mail-in voting, often citing unfounded claims of widespread fraud.

Democrats have pushed for federal legislation to expand voting access, like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, but those efforts have also stalled in Congress. The reintroduction of this GOP bill signals the issue remains a central political battleground with no compromise in sight.