Schumer, Democrats say they support voter ID, then block GOP amendment to require it

Senate Democrats blocked an amendment to Trump-backed voter ID legislation that would have done something they publicly support: require photo identification to vote in federal elections.

Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have shown interest in photo voter ID, which has grown in popularity among voters across the country.

"Democrats support voter ID," Schumer said on a press call earlier this month.

"In fact, we included it, and it is included, in our Freedom to Vote legislation several years ago."
Several others have also come out in support of a voter ID bill in recent weeks.

When asked by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins whether he would support a clean voter ID bill, Sen.

Cory Booker, D-N.J., said, "Yes."
"And New Jersey has voter ID laws," Booker said.

"I’ve got to show my driver’s license."
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Schumer said ahead of the vote that "Republicans are once again wasting time on voter suppression."
"Let's let's be very clear what this amendment is," Schumer said.

"It's a wolf in sheep's clothing, and it's a giant cover-up to what their bill really does, which is dramatic voter suppression, kicking 20 million or more people off the rolls without their knowledge or consent."
Senate Republicans argued that if Democrats truly support voter ID, they should back the amendment.
"That is one on which the Democrats have said — Senator Schumer himself — that ‘we are not opposed to photo ID,’" Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said.

"Well, let’s test that proposition.

Let’s actually have a vote on it and see where the Democrats are."
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However, requiring identification is already the practice in 36 states.

Of those, 23 require photo ID, while 13 accept another form of identification, such as a bank statement.

Nine of those states have Democratic senators.

According to a widely cited Pew Research poll from last year, 71% of Democratic voters support showing government-issued photo ID to vote.

Senate Democrats blocked the measure once before, when Husted tried to force a vote on a standalone photo voter ID bill last week.

His amendment listed several acceptable forms of identification, including an unexpired driver’s license with a photo, an unexpired state-issued ID card with a photo, a valid passport, a valid military or veteran ID with a photo, or an unexpired tribal ID with a photo.

But he recently said, "If the GOP wants real reform over a show vote — put out a clean, standalone bill, and I’m AYE."