President Donald Trump hinted he might take steps to enforce stricter voter identification rules for the midterm elections even if Congress does not pass the SAVE America Act. The bill would require photo ID at polling places — a move supporters call anti-fraud and critics say could suppress turnout. During a Real America’s Voice interview, host Wayne Allyn Root urged Trump to declare a national security emergency to impose changes without Senate approval; Trump replied, "Stranger things have happened." Legal experts warn such a move would likely prompt legal challenges.
Trump Hints He May Enforce Voter ID Rules Ahead Of Midterms Even If SAVE Act Fails
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President Donald Trump signaled Tuesday that he could pursue measures to enforce stricter voting rules ahead of the midterm elections even if Congress does not pass the SAVE America Act.
The SAVE America Act is a legislative package proposed by Trump and his allies that would make major changes to federal and state-level election procedures, including a requirement for voters to present photo identification at polling places. Supporters argue the measure is needed to prevent voter fraud; critics say it risks suppressing turnout and restricting access to the ballot.
Trump has repeatedly pushed for the bill and reportedly used its passage as leverage in negotiations on other domestic legislation. At one point, he delayed signing a major housing bill while pressing lawmakers to approve his voting package first.
Interview Remarks And Emergency-Declaration Suggestion
The issue resurfaced during a Tuesday interview on Real America's Voice with host Wayne Allyn Root, who urged the former president to bypass Congress if lawmakers fail to act. Root suggested declaring a national security emergency to impose changes without the Senate’s approval and cited the 1983 Supreme Court decision in INS v. Chadha.
"So let me put an idea in your head, OK? Because it's so hard to get the Senate to do anything — now they're on recess — they don't get anything done. If they never get the SAVE America Act done, you have the right to declare a national security emergency for elections. And the Supreme Court ruled in 1983, under Reagan, that INS vs. Chadha — that if you declare a national security emergency as the President of the United States, they can't challenge it. It can only be overturned by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress. So if you do this in the next month, we will get photo ID, proof of citizenship, and a limit to mail-in ballots, and you don't even need the Senate's vote."
Trump's response was cryptic but suggestive: "Let me just say that stranger things have happened. OK, I'll leave it at that."
Legal Context And Potential Challenges
Legal scholars note that using emergency powers to alter federal or state election rules would likely raise complex constitutional and statutory questions and could prompt court challenges. While some emergency authorities exist for the executive branch, courts and Congress retain tools to review or overturn executive actions, and any attempt to unilaterally change election procedures would almost certainly draw legal scrutiny.
The original report appeared on Mediaite.
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