New Delhi/Washington: On one hand, America is currently embroiled in a war with Iran, while on the other hand, President Donald Trump is preparing to completely overturn the election rules within the country. Before the midterm elections to be held in November 2026, Trump wants to bring a law that will change the entire structure of American voting. This proposed law is being called ‘SAVE Act’ (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act). Trump believes that if this bill is passed, the Republican Party will remain in power for a long time to come. While talking to MPs on Monday, Trump clearly said, ‘Until this bill is approved, I will not sign anything.’

At present this bill has been passed by the House of Representatives, but is stuck in the Senate. Trump wants every American citizen to present strong documentary proof of his/her citizenship before voting. This process is very similar to the ‘Special Intensive Revision’ (SIR) going on in India.

Does this bill guarantee the victory of the Republican Party?

Trump claims that the new election law will ‘guarantee’ the Republican Party’s victory in the midterm elections. In fact, recent surveys are not giving good signs for Trump and his party. According to a Quinnipiac University poll, 53% of American citizens are against the Iran war and only 40% are supporting military action.

In such a situation, Trump fears that opposition to the war may prove costly in the elections. Currently, Republicans are in majority in the Senate by 53-47, but they are facing tough stance from some of their own leaders to change the rules.

Trump’s bet in the midst of war: Trying to ensure victory by changing voter law? (File Photo: AP)

Which documents will be required for voting?

Under the proposed law, merely showing the identity card will no longer be enough. Voters will have to provide government documents such as a US passport, enhanced driver’s license or birth certificate to prove citizenship.

If someone wants to register through mail, he will have to personally go to the office and show his original papers.

Not only this, every state will have to send its voter list to the ‘Department of Homeland Security’ so that it can be matched with the database. Trump alleges that the Democrats want to change the demography of the country by getting non-citizens to vote.

Will crores of women and minorities be left out of voting?

The Democratic Party and human rights organizations have called this bill a ‘threat to democracy’. Experts say that one in 10 American citizens do not have documents like birth certificate or passport readily available. The most shocking figure is regarding women.

According to an estimate, approximately 69 million American women do not have a birth certificate that matches their current legal name (name changed after marriage).

In India too, this has been the main reason for deletion of women’s names during ‘SIR’. The opposition argues that this law is being brought deliberately to target minorities and poor voters.

Trump claims, the new law will make the Republican Party win for a long time (File Photo: AP)

There is a dilemma in the Senate on ‘Nuclear Option’

Republican leader in the Senate, John Thune, is not in favor of using the ‘nuclear option’ at present. In America, 60 votes are required to end the debate on any major bill, which is called ‘filibuster’. Trump wants this rule to be abolished and the bill to be passed with a simple majority. However, many Republican senators are not ready to give up this old parliamentary right.

A heated debate on this is expected in the Senate next week. If Trump fails this time too, he can adopt the route of executive order as before, which is sure to be challenged in the courts.