Schumer Calls SAVE Act Jim Crow 2.0, Vows Senate Block

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared on Thursday that a Republican-backed bill requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections amounts to "Jim Crow 2.0," vowing that Democrats would block it entirely in the Senate. Speaking on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Schumer criticized the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, as a measure designed to suppress votes from racial minorities and others facing documentation barriers.

The SAVE Act, which passed the House in April, would mandate that voters provide documents such as a REAL ID-compliant identification, passport or birth certificate to register or vote in federal contests. It aims to ensure only citizens participate in elections by prohibiting states from accepting registrations without such proof. Republican lawmakers, including supporters aligned with former President Donald Trump, have championed the legislation as essential for safeguarding election integrity and maintaining public trust in the process.

Schumer, responding to a question from co-host Jonathan Lemire about a recent Pew Research Center poll, rejected the bill despite data showing broad support for citizenship verification. The...