Lawmakers are sparring over a bill that would mandate that Americans show identification and proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections. The debate is now heading to the Senate, spurring a marathon session as leaders on both sides of the aisle argue their case.

Senate Gears Up for Marathon Debate Over Voter ID Legislation

It is going to be a long few days for some U.S. senators as this chamber of Congress kicks off a marathon debate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE). The proposed piece of legislation has become one of President Donald Trump's top domestic priorities.

The law would require that voters show valid identification and proof of citizenship to participate in elections at the federal level. Although the bill is not expected to pass the Senate, both parties are preparing to engage in a lengthy debate prior to the vote. Democratic leaders have signaled that they are ready to debate for days, speaking out against the legalities of the bill.

On the other side of the aisle, the GOP is expected to tack on amendments to the bill to appease Trump. For example, Republicans are likely to add amendments that would put transgender policies under the microscope. The amendments are also expected to attempt to end the practice of no-excuse mail voting.

The debate in the Senate is likely to last for days. Democrats will use the time to deepen divisions within the GOP, regardless of whether the policy disagreements are related to federal elections.

While the GOP has a slim majority in the Senate, they still fall well short of the 60 votes needed to pass the bill. In addition, Senate Republicans do not currently have the votes needed to change the filibuster procedure to work in their favor.

The Senate recently voted to open debate on the issue by a vote of 51 to 48. This number was a strong indicator that the GOP does not have the support needed to reach the 60-vote barrier. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the lone lawmaker in her party to cross the aisle and vote with the Democrats to block the possibility of debate.

GOP leadership has agreed to allow the chamber to hold the floor and debate the package for days. There is speculation that the debate could last through the weekend. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has the power to end the debate, but it is predicted that he will let it continue for a few days. Thune said on Tuesday that he was "looking forward to a vigorous, long, and spirited conversation" on the Senate floor.

Thune went on to say that he believed that the issue was "at the very core of elections in this country." The president has put pressure on Thune in recent weeks to bring the bill to a vote in the Senate. However, Thune has repeatedly said that the package does not have the votes needed to send it to the president's desk. Trump has threatened not to sign any other pieces of legislation until Congress passes this pet project of his.

Where Both Parties Fall in the Voter ID Debate

The majority of the GOP is aligned in their belief that the SAVE Act would make federal elections more secure. Conversely, Democrats say that the bill would make it more difficult for many groups to vote.

Although the Democratic Party is seemingly aligned on its stance on this controversial legislation, the same cannot be said for the Republicans. GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna criticized Thune for holding a “show vote” on the bill during an interview with CNN. Luna said her party leadership knows that the bill is destined to fail; however, they are still bringing it to a vote.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer went on the record to criticize the proposed legislation prior to the start of the debate. Schumer lambasted the bill, saying that it is about "making it harder to vote and easier to steal an election." The senator from New York went so far as to call it a "voter suppression bill." Schumer clarified that the Democratic opposition to the legislation was not about the use of a photo ID, but about the simple fact that it promotes voter suppression.

Under the parameters of the bill, voters would need to show citizenship documents that line up with their current legal name. This requirement could present issues for married women who have changed their last name, as birth certificates show maiden names. Although passports are accepted forms of citizenship, not all Americans have passports. Democrats argue that the SAVE Act would favor wealthier Americans who have these types of documents readily accessible, naturally creating another layer of barriers in federal elections.

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