Last Friday, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) claimed that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was misleading voters by labeling the SAVE Act as “voter suppression.” In a Fox Business appearance, Donalds argued that the Real ID, which is already implemented in all states, ensures voter eligibility including for women who change their names after marriage, framing Democratic objections as “gaslighting.” The segment was posted on X by The Vigilant Fox who said that Donalds “exposed just how desperate Democrats are to keep illegals voting,” and Elon Musk amplified the post to his more than two hundred million followers, quote-posting the post with a simple “True.”
But does Real ID truly address the voter eligibility concerns as Donalds and Musk claim?
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, passed by the House on April 10, mandates “documentary proof of United States citizenship” for registering to vote in federal elections. Acceptable documents would include a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, but only if it “indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States,” the bill states. This specific requirement is where Donalds’ claim falls short—most Real IDs don’t meet this standard.
