Washington, D.C. — As the House prepares to vote on a Republican-backed election bill, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) said Sunday that any voter identification requirement must include a way for people to obtain an ID free of charge.
Speaking on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” Steil said that individuals without identification “100 percent” need access to a no-cost ID in order to vote. He argued that such a system would strengthen public confidence in elections while ensuring participation is not restricted. Steil said similar provisions already exist in Wisconsin, where residents can obtain a free ID from the state Department of Transportation for voting purposes under a law enacted in 2011.
The House is expected to vote this week on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and valid identification to cast a ballot. The legislation outlines acceptable documentation, including passports, birth certificates, certain government-issued photo IDs, and military identification paired with service records.
Supporters of the bill point to polling showing broad public backing for voter ID requirements. A Pew Research Center study conducted last year found that more than 80 percent of Americans — including a majority of Democrats, support requiring government-issued photo identification to vote.
The SAVE Act, sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), passed the House last year with unanimous Republican support and backing from four Democrats. Senate Republican leaders have not yet committed to a strategy for advancing the bill.
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