House Blocks Funding Bill Tied to Non-Citizen Voting Reforms

With just weeks before a potential government shutdown, the Republican-controlled House failed to pass a crucial spending measure tied to an effort aimed at cracking down on non-citizen voting. On Wednesday, 220 members of Congress, including 14 Republicans, joined Democrats in voting down the proposal backed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), which would have extended government funding and added significant election reforms.

The six-month continuing resolution (CR) was designed to keep the government funded through March 2024. However, it was also bundled with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections and pressing states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls. This proposal, seen as an important step toward election security by its advocates, was fiercely opposed by Democrats and some Republicans.

Speaker Johnson emphasized the importance of the measure, stating, “Congress has an immediate obligation to do two things: responsibly fund the federal government and ensure the security of our elections.” Despite his efforts to build consensus over the weekend, the bill faced strong opposition from within his own party.

• 206 Democrats and 14 Republicans voted against the bill.

• Only 202 members, including 199 Republicans and three Democrats, supported it.

Among Republicans, several opposed the bill not because of the election reforms, but because they rejected the idea of passing another short-term CR. Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT) stated clearly on social media, “I’m a HARD NO on today’s CR.” Many conservatives want the House to pass all 12 individual appropriations bills instead of relying on temporary stopgaps.

Even if the measure had passed in the House, it faced steep opposition in the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) vowed to block any "poison pills" that would risk vital government programs. President Joe Biden also threatened to veto the bill if it reached his desk.

The SAVE Act, originally passed by the House in July, reflects growing Republican concerns about election integrity. While critics argue that the bill would create unnecessary barriers for legal voters, evidence continues to emerge of non-citizens appearing on voter rolls in key states like Ohio, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Johnson highlighted these cases in a report, pointing to loopholes in the National Voter Registration Act, which does not require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.

Former President Donald Trump, in a statement on Truth Social before the vote, made it clear that Republicans should not accept any funding measure without the SAVE Act. Trump, who remains the GOP’s frontrunner for the 2024 presidential race, said the party should demand “every ounce” of the voter reform bill.

As the deadline for government funding rapidly approaches, time is running out for lawmakers in both chambers to reach an agreement. If no deal is reached, a government shutdown could hit by October, leaving federal agencies without funding just weeks before the 2024 election cycle kicks into high gear.

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