- Sen. Mike Lee threatened to end the 60-vote filibuster requirement in the U.S. Senate.
- Lee said it is preventing the Republican majority from passing popular election reforms.
- Polls show that a majority of Americans support key provisions of the Save America Act.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee called for an end to the U.S. Senate filibuster on Saturday if Senate rules are not changed to require in-person Democrat opposition to stop a vote on his SAVE America Act.
After weeks of debate, Senate Republican leadership pivoted away from the Save America Act this week as lawmakers race to meet funding deadlines for immigration enforcement and government surveillance powers.
Democratic senators have so far prevented a vote on Lee’s bill which would implement proof-of-citizenship and voter ID requirements in federal elections. Senate rules require the support of 60 senators to conclude debate.
Utah’s senior senator initially pushed for a so-called talking filibuster, which would require Democrats to be physically present to block final passage. The effort failed as some Republicans were wary of dismantling current rules.
But that didn’t stop Lee from giving an ultimatum to the nation before GOP delegates at the state party’s nominating convention on Saturday in Orem. If the Senate wasn’t willing to change its rules, Lee said it was time to end the filibuster for good.
“If they want to filibuster the Save America Act, make them speak, and if we’re not willing to make them speak and do the hard work then it is time to nuke the filibuster,” Lee shouted, to the applause of many of the 3,500 in attendance.
By allowing senators to avoid voting on the bill by hypothetically withholding their vote, Lee said Democrats are outsourcing real debate on the issue. “This is your country, it must not be outsourced to anyone else,” Lee said.
How popular is Lee’s bill?
Lee’s bill would require documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. The current system requires only an attestation of citizenship. The bill would also require photo ID to vote which could impact Utah’s vote by mail system.
A March YouGov poll found nearly 60% of Americans approve requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and 29% oppose it. A 2024 Gallup poll found nearly 85% of adults support requiring photo ID and proof of citizenship.
“Only in the halls of Congress is this controversial,” Lee told the room full of grassroots volunteers. “You sent us back there to secure our elections, to restore our sovereignty and to put America, and especially Americans first.”
Lee urged delegates to contact their elected representatives to support his bill. Utah’s junior Sen. John Curtis voted in favor of debating the Save America Act but he has expressed opposition to changing filibuster rules.
In February, Curtis said Republicans should not seek to pass agenda items “at the expense of our institutions.” Curtis argued the filibuster forces senators to find common ground and also protects the minority party.
Lee dismissed such arguments as an obstacle to what voters expect from a GOP-controlled White House and Congress. President Donald Trump has said Lee’s bill is one of his top priorities ahead of the midterm elections.
“The United States Senate is there to represent you, not to serve the zombie filibuster which must come to an end today,” Lee said.