Sen. Cornyn: ‘Absolutely,’ We Should Require ID to Vote
(CNS News) -- In regard to the upcoming Senate procedural vote on S.1, the For the People Act, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said “absolutely,” voters should have to show ID at the polls, just as people have to show ID to purchase alcohol.
At the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, CNS News asked Sen. Cornyn, “Should someone have to show an ID in order to buy alcohol?”
He said, “I think that’s a matter of state law, yeah.”
CNS News then asked, “And what about to vote?”
“Absolutely,” said the senator.
The “For The People Act” was passed by the House of Representatives (HR 1) on March 3. The Senate version of the bill, S.1 is now under consideration. It proposes election reform by prohibiting states from requiring voters to show an ID at the polls. It would also require states to provide same-day voter registration and expand mail-in voting opportunities.
The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on S.1 today, June 22, on whether to proceed with the legislation. Republicans reportedly will try to filibuster the bill.
In a statement, the Republican National Committee said of the legislation, “The Democrats’ S. 1 is an unprecedented partisan power grab that seeks to undermine the sanctity of the ballot by codifying a federal takeover of local elections. The Democrat politicians act seeks to eviscerate widely supported voter ID requirements and use taxpayer dollars to bankroll political campaigns.
“Americans understand states should run their own elections -- not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, DC. As Democrats continue their assault on election integrity, the Republican Party remains committed to making it easier to vote and harder to cheat."
The RNC noted that, “75% of voters, including 69% of Black voters, support voter ID laws, a finding that is consistent with polls for years.”
Speaking about S.1 on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, “Our country has supposedly come a long way since African-Americans in the South were forced to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar in order to vote; but some of these voter suppression laws in Georgia and other Republican states smack of Jim Crow -- Jim Crow in the 21st Century, rearing its ugly head once again.
"And that’s why we need S.1. so badly, a bill that would combat all of these voter suppression efforts by restoring critical parts of the Voting Rights Act; a bill that would make it easier—not harder—to vote by automatically registering American voters when they get a driver’s license; a bill that would limit dark money and corruption in our politics, and much more."
Sen. Manchin: ‘Absolutely, Always ID’ for Voting
(CNS News) -- When asked whether voters should be required to show ID at the polls, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said, "Absolutely, always ID." Today, the Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on S.1, the For the People Act, legislation that would eviscerate voter ID laws in 36 states.
At the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, CNS News asked Senator Manchin, “Do you think that states should require an ID to buy alcohol?”
He did not respond, and CNS News then asked, “What about to vote?”
Manchin replied, “Absolutely, always ID.”
Manchin’s support for voter ID, however, is less strict than requiring a photo ID. The senator supports presenting alternative ID, if necessary, such as a utility bill with a name and address.
Tuesday afternoon at a press conference, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) revealed that all 50 Democrats, including Manchin, would vote yes to move forward with debate on S.1, the “For the People Act.”
Manchin has said that he opposes the legislation as it is currently written and that a bill this sweeping should move forward with bipartisan support.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made it clear at a June 17 press conference that the Senate GOP would not budge in opposition to the bill, which he described as “an effort by the federal government to take over the way we conduct elections in this country.”
“It is a solution in search of a problem,” he added.
S.1, the For the People Act would overhaul state elections, centralizing power in the federal government. The legislation would also disallow states from requiring a photo ID to vote.
The Wall Street Journal has reported, “A study by economist John Lott finds that 46 of 47 European countries require government-issued photo ID to vote. The exception is Great Britain (although not Northern Ireland).”
Sen. Lankford: ‘Yes, I Do’ Think We Should Require Voter ID
(CNS News) -- Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) said, "Yes, I do” believe that people should be required to show an ID when voting, adding that “it’s the most basic thing.” Today, the Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on S.1, the For the People Act, legislation that would eviscerate voter ID laws in 36 states.
At the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, CNS News asked Senator Lankford, “Do you think we should require an ID for someone to buy alcohol?”
He replied, “Yes, I do, actually.”
CNS News followed-up, “What about to vote?” Lankford said, “Yes, I do, actually.”
CNS News then asked the senator, “what do you say to some of your colleagues who don’t think we need an ID to vote, but should have one for alcohol, driving, and countless other things?”
Lankford said, “Or coming into a federal building, yeah. It’s the most basic thing. Everybody should have the ability to be able to get an ID. We want to encourage people to be able to vote and do everything we can to make sure that we can make it easy for people to vote. But verifying the ID of someone shouldn’t be hard, as well.”
The “For The People Act” was passed by the House of Representatives (HR 1) on March 3. The Senate version of the bill, S.1 is now under consideration. It proposes election reform by prohibiting states from requiring voters to show an ID at the polls. It would also require states to provide same-day voter registration and expand mail-in voting opportunities.
The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on S.1 today, June 22, on whether to proceed with the legislation. Republicans reportedly will try to filibuster the bill.
The Wall Street Journal has reported, “A study by economist John Lott finds that 46 of 47 European countries require government-issued photo ID to vote. The exception is Great Britain (although not Northern Ireland).”
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