WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pushing a sweeping election reform measure they say would prevent non-citizens from voting, while Democrats argue the proposal would instead make it harder for eligible Americans to cast ballots.

The legislation, known as the SAVE Act, would introduce new requirements for voter registration, including voter identification and proof of citizenship. Supporters say the changes are needed to protect election integrity.

“We ought to set some baseline requirements,” said U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, (R) Missouri.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, (R) Montana, said he strongly supports voter ID requirements, while Sen. Thom Tillis, (R) North Carolina, pointed to concerns about people living in the country without legal status and said he has “no problem” trying to ensure identification is required.

Research from groups including the Center for Election Innovation and Research has found that verified cases of non-citizen voting are exceedingly rare, with even unproven allegations totaling only a small fraction of 1% of eligible voters.

The White House is backing the bill. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the legislation would help states “ensure the integrity and safety of their elections,” which she said is a priority for President Donald Trump, who has also called on Republicans to nationalize U.S. elections.

Democrats, however, are united in opposition. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called the SAVE Act “dead on arrival in the Senate” and later described it as “nothing more than Jim Crow 2.0.”

Schumer and other Democrats argue the proposed restrictions would block millions of eligible U.S. citizens from accessing the ballot and amount to federalized voter suppression rather than election protection.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott is among the bill’s strongest supporters and met with Trump on Thursday to discuss possible paths to pass the legislation in the Senate despite fierce Democratic opposition.

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