Senator Collins Backs Controversial Voting Restrictions Despite State Opposition
Despite a decisive rejection from Maine voters last year regarding a photo ID requirement at the polls, Senator Susan Collins has announced her support for a federal bill that would enforce such measures nationwide. The legislation, known as the SAVE Act, is backed by former President Donald Trump and entails stricter voting regulations.
According to a fundraising email from Collins, she endorses the SAVE Act, which mandates that voters present a photo ID before voting. The bill also aims to curtail most forms of mail-in voting and demands proof of citizenship when registering, such as a passport, birth certificate, or military ID.
Collins stated in her email, “I announced that I will vote for the SAVE America Act because the law and the Constitution are clear: Citizens of other countries should not be voting in American elections.”
President Trump echoed similar sentiments, advocating for the bill during a recent policy summit with House Republicans. “Our elections are crooked as hell, and you can win—not only win elections over that and not only win future elections—but you’ll win every debate because the public is really angry about it,” Trump asserted.
However, a Department of Homeland Security review has shown that incidents of noncitizen voting are practically nonexistent and do not affect election results. Noncitizen voting is already illegal in most elections.
The SAVE Act was passed by the House, primarily with Republican support, on February 11. Nonetheless, it faces challenges in the Senate, where it needs a 60-vote majority unless Republicans decide to eliminate the filibuster, a move that is currently under consideration.
Senator Collins’ vote could prove pivotal if Senate Republicans opt to bypass the filibuster. However, voting rights advocates express concern that the SAVE Act could restrict access to the ballot for over 21 million Americans. Married women who have changed their names could be particularly affected due to potential discrepancies in their identifying documents.
Maine Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat contesting Collins in the upcoming election, criticized Collins for her stance. Mills stated, “The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy, and Maine is proud to have one of the highest voter participation rates in the nation. But Susan Collins is once again appeasing Republican leadership and caving to pressure by backing a dangerous Trump-backed voter suppression bill that will disenfranchise voters across Maine and America.”
Graham Platner, another Democratic contender against Collins, also expressed concern, stating, “Under this terrible bill, if you get married and change your name—or if you can’t find your passport—you could be turned away from the polls,” in a Facebook video.
Notably, Collins is the sole Senate Republican running for reelection in 2026 in a state that Trump did not carry in the 2024 elections.
The post Susan Collins is fundraising off election misinformation appeared first on American Journal News.
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