Senate Democrats line up against photo ID in SAVE America Act vote

Senate Democrats voted in lockstep against a GOP proposal to require photo ID at the polls, the latest turn in a days-long debate over President Donald Trump’s signature election bill.

Republicans scheduled the Thursday vote as a “moment of truth” for Democrats who have previously expressed support for voter ID laws but oppose the SAVE America Act, which goes beyond an ID requirement and would impose restrictions Democrats claim amount to voter suppression.

In a 53-47 vote, all Senate Democrats blocked the legislation, including centrist Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). Fetterman previously indicated he would vote “yes” if the SAVE America Act was stripped down to a voter ID proposal.

Isolating the voter ID provision reflected an attempt by Republicans to focus on the bill’s most popular provision, as upward of 80% of voters support the requirement in recent surveys. But Democrats in the lead-up to the vote argued that election laws