Republicans are pushing for a major overhaul of U.S. voting laws, focusing on voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements, as part of their efforts to restore confidence in the electoral system.

The proposed legislation, including the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, has sparked fierce debate, with Democrats opposing the measures as voter-suppressive, Newsmax reported.

GOP Push for Election Reform: ACE and SAVE Acts

As part of their ongoing push for election reform, Republican leaders have introduced legislation aimed at ensuring tighter control over voting eligibility and restoring public trust in the electoral process.

The GOP’s proposed reforms come in the wake of President Donald Trump’s repeated claims about widespread election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. According to GOP lawmakers, the ACE and SAVE Acts are designed to address what they see as weaknesses in the current voter registration system.

Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), who chairs the House Committee on Administration, expressed optimism that the GOP-controlled House could pass these bills in the coming year.

Steil believes these reforms are critical to improving Americans' faith in the election process. "As we look to the new year with unified Republican government, we have a real opportunity to move these pieces of legislation not only out of committee but across the House floor and into law," Steil said. "We need to improve Americans' confidence in elections."

The GOP's push for reform emphasizes voter ID requirements and the need for proof of citizenship when registering to vote. This is seen as an effort to close what Republicans view as loopholes in the current registration process.

GOP lawmakers argue that current registration systems, which allow voters to register with a driver's license or Social Security number, are too lenient. They claim that these systems could allow noncitizens to register and vote, despite noncitizen voting being illegal and punishable by felony charges and deportation.

Democrats Criticize GOP Proposals, Citing Potential Voter Suppression

Democratic leaders have been vocal in their opposition to the proposed changes. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) argued that the GOP’s reforms would restrict voting rights for many Americans, particularly marginalized groups. "Our view and the Republicans' view is very different on this point," Morelle stated. "They have spent most of the time in the last two years really restricting the rights of people to get to ballots."

Democrats argue that requirements such as proof of citizenship and voter ID would disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, including college students, low-income voters, and those without a permanent address.

Morelle also criticized the GOP’s continued emphasis on claims of widespread fraud, noting that the issue largely disappeared after Trump’s loss in 2020. "You haven't heard a word about this since Election Day," Morelle said. "It's an Election Day miracle that suddenly the thing they had spent an inordinate amount of time describing as a rampant problem didn't exist at all."

While Democrats oppose many provisions in the ACE and SAVE Acts, they have expressed some willingness to work with Republicans on other aspects of election reform.

Morelle acknowledged that there is potential for bipartisan cooperation on issues like federal funding for election offices and limiting foreign money in elections.

State-Level Audits Add Fuel to National Debate on Voting Eligibility

In states like Georgia, where similar proposals have gained traction, GOP-backed reforms have gained support. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a key supporter of voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements, pointed to audits in his state as evidence of the need for these reforms.

In 2022, Georgia election officials identified 1,634 individuals who attempted to register but could not verify their U.S. citizenship. A follow-up audit in 2024 found 20 noncitizens who tried to register, and officials investigated six of them for illegal voting.

Raffensperger emphasized that these audits were critical for building voter confidence, particularly in a highly polarized society. "What we've done by doing those audits is give voters confidence that we do not have noncitizens voting here in Georgia," Raffensperger said. "And when society is highly polarized, you have to look at building trust. Trust is the gold standard."

Raffensperger also argued that getting voter registration right is vital for maintaining the integrity of elections. "You have to get it right because you're talking about people's priceless franchise to vote," he added.

Raffensperger’s remarks highlight the broader GOP stance that reforms are necessary to ensure that only eligible voters are casting ballots.

Opposition Grows Over Proposed Changes to Early Voting and Mail-In Ballots

While Republicans focus on voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements, some GOP-backed proposals also call for significant changes to early voting and mail-in ballot procedures.

Former President Trump has suggested eliminating early voting and restricting access to mail ballots, a proposal opposed by both Republican and Democratic state officials in places like Georgia and Michigan.

Georgia election officials reported that in the November election, 71% of voters cast ballots in person before Election Day, underscoring the popularity of early voting in the state.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, has consistently defended the state's election procedures, stating that Michigan’s system is both secure and accurate. "We've proven time and time again in our states that our elections are secure and are accurate," Benson said.

Both Benson and Raffensperger have raised concerns that eliminating early voting or limiting mail ballots would disproportionately harm voters, particularly those who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day. They argue that these changes would reduce access to voting and undermine the progress made in improving voter participation.

Bipartisan Discussion May Be Key to Moving Forward

Despite the deep partisan divide over election reform, there is some room for bipartisan cooperation, particularly on issues like election funding and security. Steil, the Republican lawmaker, hopes Democrats will collaborate with Republicans to refine the proposed legislation. However, entrenched positions on voter ID and proof of citizenship make the path forward uncertain.

As both sides argue over how to ensure election integrity, the outcome of the debate could significantly impact future voting laws across the nation. Whether these reforms will gain traction in a divided Congress remains to be seen, but election security will likely remain a major focus in the years to come.