US Senate Republicans Block Trump‑Backed SAVE Voter ID Bill

Senators Susan Collins (R‑ME), Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK), Mitch McConnell (R‑KY) and Tom Tillis (R‑KY) voted alongside Democrats to reject the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a voter‑ID measure championed by President Donald Trump. The amendment was attached to a roughly $70 billion budget reconciliation package intended for immigration enforcement and Border Protection funding and required a 60‑vote threshold, which was not met.

The effort marked the second failure of the SAVE Act in recent months. Senator Lindsey Graham, who sponsored the amendment, accused Democrats of enabling fraud and also voiced opposition to transgender participation in women’s sports. Democratic leaders, including Senator Alex Padilla, argued that existing safeguards already prevent non‑citizens from voting and that the proposal is unnecessary.