Republicans in the House of Representatives have unveiled the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act, a bill designed to bolster election integrity nationwide. The bill's sponsors also cautioned the public to be wary of potential misinformation campaigns from Democrats regarding the legislation.
Five Republican members of the Committee on House Administration held a press conference near Atlanta to introduce the ACE Act. They argue the bill will equip states with the necessary resources to safeguard election integrity and restore public trust in the electoral process. Key provisions of the bill include mandatory photo identification for federal elections, a ban on non-citizen voting, yearly voter roll maintenance, and a prohibition on sending unsolicited ballots to outdated voter rolls.
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), the committee chairman, asserted that the ACE Act will simplify voting while making it more difficult to cheat. He described the bill as "commonsense legislation" offering a practical approach that should garner widespread support. Steil's colleagues on the committee echoed his sentiments, emphasizing the bill's importance and highlighting their respective states' efforts to combat voter fraud.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) noted that the bill incentivizes states to adopt similar measures to Georgia's 2021 election law (S.B. 202), which faced strong criticism from Democrats who labeled it as voter suppression and likened it to Jim Crow laws. The committee chose Georgia as the location for the bill's rollout to address the fallout the state experienced following the backlash against S.B. 202, including the relocation of the MLB All-Star game, which reportedly cost the local economy over $100 million.
Republican members of the Committee on House administration introduce the American Confidence in Elections Act. (Committee on House Administration)
When questioned about anticipated Democratic opposition, Steil acknowledged the likelihood of attacks and misleading narratives from the left. He stressed the importance of transparency and public engagement with the bill's contents. Loudermilk highlighted a hypothetical scenario where current laws in Washington, D.C., could allow a Russian embassy employee to vote or even run for mayor after just 30 days in the U.S.
Committee on House Administration Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil speaking at a press conference. (Committee on House Administration)
Despite the Republican majority in the House, the bill faces an uncertain future in the Democratic-controlled Senate and with President Biden. The ACE Act follows the Democrats' own election bill, H.R. 1 (For the People Act), which passed the House in 2021 but stalled in the Senate.
