Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri voiced his frustration after four Republican senators sided with Democrats to block the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. This legislation, supported by former President Trump, aimed to strengthen voter ID requirements at the federal level.

Republican Senators’ Decision

During a recent Senate session, Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina voted against the amendment that sought to attach the voter ID measure to a budget reconciliation package. This package was intended to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.

Senator Hawley, speaking to Fox News Digital, expressed his inability to understand the decision, stating, “Voter ID is the most popular thing out there. People want their elections to be safe and fair.” He highlighted that Missouri has successfully implemented voter ID requirements, which were added to the state’s constitution by voters.

Debate Over Federal vs. State Jurisdiction

Opponents of the SAVE Act argued that election integrity measures should be determined at the state level, rather than being federally mandated. However, Hawley countered this argument by pointing out that Congress has historically played a role in regulating federal elections. He cited the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 as an example of federal involvement in election procedures.

The SAVE Act proposed requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections and mandated photo identification for casting ballots. Hawley noted that 37 states, including several traditionally Democratic ones, already have voter ID laws, suggesting that such measures are neither unusual nor extreme.

Despite the setback, Hawley remains optimistic, believing that the American public will eventually demand nationwide voter ID laws to ensure election integrity.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.