Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded sharply this week to comments made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt regarding voter identification requirements.
Leavitt argued that identification is already required for everyday activities, stating:
“You need an ID to purchase alcohol. You need an ID to go to the library and check out a book. So the president thinks you should have an ID to vote in our nation’s elections.”
In a post on X, Schumer accused Leavitt of “lying and gaslighting,” saying the Republican-backed SAVE Act would go far beyond standard voter ID requirements. According to Schumer, the proposal would require voters to present a paper birth certificate or a passport to register to vote.
He noted that nearly half of Americans do not have a passport and warned that more than 21 million people could be affected under the measure. Schumer said the legislation would be “dead on arrival” in the Senate.
Supporters of the bill argue it would strengthen election integrity. Critics contend it could create barriers for eligible voters.
The debate reflects ongoing national divisions over voting access and election security as lawmakers continue to clash over proposed reforms.