Washington, Aug 22: US President Donald Trump has renewed his call for mandatory photo identification and proof of US citizenship for voters, putting election rules at the centre of his effort to retain Republican control of Congress in the November midterm elections.
Speaking at a Republican rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, Trump urged lawmakers to pass the Save America Act, which he said should require every voter to present photo identification and establish their US citizenship.
Trump said his administration had won a Supreme Court victory on the issue but argued that legislation was necessary to make the requirements permanent. He did not provide details of the court ruling or the proposed legislation during his speech.
The President repeatedly accused Democrats of opposing voter identification and citizenship requirements and urged supporters to back Republicans in the midterms. He said voters should treat the election as though he himself were on the ballot, linking the congressional contest to his broader policy agenda.
Trump also warned that a Democratic takeover of Congress could threaten his policies on the border, taxes and other domestic issues. He called on Republicans to secure a decisive result and repeated his claims concerning election integrity.
Darlene Graham, the Republican Senate candidate Trump was campaigning for, endorsed the Save America Act and said it was the first bill she had co-sponsored. Graham also said she would support ending the Senate filibuster if that were necessary to pass the measure.
The voter identification proposal formed part of a wider set of priorities Trump outlined for Republicans. These included tougher criminal penalties, changes to healthcare payments, lower prescription drug prices and restrictions involving transgender athletes and medical procedures involving children.
Trump’s renewed push comes against the backdrop of differences between the US and India over voter identification systems. The United States does not operate a single nationwide voter identification system. In India, the Election Commission issues photo identity cards to registered electors, while other approved documents can also be used for identification at polling stations.
Trump also warned that Democrats could seek to impeach him if they gained control of Congress, alleging that some Democratic lawmakers were already discussing impeachment without identifying a specific reason.
With the November midterms approaching, Trump urged his supporters to vote and portrayed the congressional elections as consequential for his presidency and Republican policy priorities.
