US House passes election bill imposing new voter ID rules

WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed an election bill requiring new voter ID and proof-of-citizenship documents for federal elections, a measure President Donald Trump has urged Congress to enact.

The bill, dubbed the SAVE America Act, was approved by a narrow margin of 218-213 in the lower chamber, with unanimous Republican support and opposition from all but one Democrat.

According to the bill, states would need to obtain in-person documentary proof of citizenship -- such as a passport or birth certificate -- to register someone for federal elections, and it also requires photo ID for in-person voting.

For mail-in ballots, it imposes new rules requiring voters to provide a copy of a valid ID when requesting and when submitting an absentee ballot.

The election bill has been a point of contention between Republicans and Democrats.

Republicans have repeatedly argued that requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship helps prevent voter fraud.

Democrats, meanwhile, contend that these requirements could suppress voter turnout, especially among minorities, young people, and lower-income voters who may have more difficulty obtaining ID documents.

"This is a desperate effort by Republicans to distract," House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said. "The so-called SAVE Act is not about voter identification, it is about voter suppression. And they have zero credibility on this issue."

The bill now heads to the Senate, where Republicans control 53 out of the 100 seats. "It faces a daunting path in the Senate," a report by NBC said, noting that some Senate Republicans are "skeptical or outright opposed to the legislation."