Republicans cite Olive Garden to push voter ID law

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and other Republican lawmakers are championing a national voter identification requirement by drawing a comparison to a promotional offer from the Olive Garden restaurant chain. The argument, made in interviews and a Capitol Hill press conference on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, asserts that if a photo ID is needed to redeem a "NeverEnding Pasta Pass," it should similarly be required to vote.

Scalise made the case during an appearance on CNBC and later at a press conference, stating that showing identification to vote is not a complicated subject. He and other Republicans, including Representative Virginia Foxx, have pointed to Olive Garden's recently revived promotion, which requires passholders to present a valid photo ID matching the name on the pass to receive unlimited pasta for 13 weeks after a $100 payment. The chain reintroduced the offer last week, on July 16, 2026, after a six-year hiatus, making 10,000 passes available.

The analogy is being used to advocate for the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed bill that passed the House in February 2026. The legislation would mandate photo identification for voting in all states and require proof...