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Floor Speech

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Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the SAVE America Act, legislation that I have cosponsored to make certain that only U.S. citizens are voting in our elections.

This legislation would require proof of citizenship in our elections, and it would require that this citizenship be identified when registering to vote and by presenting a valid photo ID when casting your vote at the ballot box.

As of last fall, 36 States were requiring voters to present IDs in order to vote. This includes my home State of South Dakota, where you can present your driver's license, passport, or Tribal ID. All we ask to cast your vote is that you can prove you are an American citizen and that you are who you say you are. That shouldn't be controversial. In fact, it should just be common sense.

Our neighboring State of Minnesota says that most voters will not have to show identification at all. In fact, if you want to vote, you can simply ask someone else who is registered in your precinct to vouch for your identity. One person can vouch for up to eight people. This loose requirement does not appropriately address voter integrity.

We require identification for many parts of everyday life in America. You need your photo ID to open a bank account, to rent a car, to start a job, or to board a plane. In New York City, you need two forms of ID just to shovel snow. Requiring identification to vote should be the standard.

The American people understand that. In a recent poll, over 80 percent of Americans favor requiring all voters to show government- issued photo IDs to vote; that includes 95 percent of Republicans, 85 percent of Independents, and, yes, even 71 percent of Democrats. Let me say that again: 71 percent of Democrats support voter ID laws. Our Democrat colleagues are on the wrong side of their own constituents.

This legislation implements a reasonable policy with broad support from all sides of the political spectrum. I simply do not understand why our colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to hold up this legislation.

Voting in elections is a constitutional right, but it is also a privilege. We live in the greatest country in the world, partially because of our free and fair elections to choose our leaders. We compromise these values when we allow noncitizens to vote in our elections.

The right to vote in our country belongs to the American people, not foreign nationals. American elections should be for the American citizen only. American leaders should be decided by Americans.

I urge my colleagues to support the SAVE America Act to uphold the law and protect voter integrity.

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