(NationalUSNews.com) – President Joe Biden has announced that he would veto the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as House Resolution 8281, prompting a statement from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).
In the statement, Johnson criticized Biden and the White House for the decision and said that every American should feel concerned about Biden’s decision to block the resolution. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act would prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections and is the latest Republican-led effort to protect election integrity ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
In response to Johnson’s statement and the controversy surrounding the veto, the White House has released a statement explaining Biden’s decision. According to the White House, the resolution isn’t necessary as noncitizens rarely attempt to vote in federal elections. The statement also features dismissive comments about Johnson’s concerns, as the Biden administration said that states already have policies to prevent noncitizens from voting and maintaining election integrity. The Biden administration claims that voter eligibility laws already work and that further federal policy isn’t warranted.
Although the Biden administration said the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act isn’t necessary, the resolution establishes new requirements for people wishing to vote. The resolution amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and would require voters to provide legally valid identification to vote in federal elections. The identifications accepted under the resolution are military identification, valid United States passports, or a standard driver’s license combined with a birth certificate that proves someone was born in the United States.
According to Johnson, Biden’s decision to veto the resolution should be a top concern for most American voters. Johnson cited the recent influx of illegal immigrants into the United States during his statement, claiming that the resolution would prevent illegal immigrants from influencing American politics. Johnson’s comments about the resolution echo other Republicans’ sentiment regarding the ongoing immigration surge, as many conservative lawmakers fear the surge of illegal immigrants into the country could present an unfair advantage to liberal lawmakers due to their pro-immigration policies and ideologies.
While Johnson maintains that voter eligibility reform should be enacted, the White House fears establishing new voting requirements would make voting harder for the average American citizen. When defending Biden’s decision to veto the resolution, the White House said that the resolution would only prevent eligible voters from participating in federal elections and wouldn’t help establish election integrity as Johnson has claimed.
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