Connecticut Enacts ID Rule for High‑Volume Bottle Returns as Senators Oppose SAVE Act Voter ID Measure
Connecticut’s Democratic‑led legislature passed, and Gov. Ned Lamont signed on March 3, an emergency anti‑fraud law, SB 299, requiring bottle‑redemption centers to collect a copy of a customer’s driver’s license when they cash in more than 1,000 cans or bottles in a single day, after reports of non‑residents crossing state lines to exploit the state’s higher 10‑cent deposit and costing Connecticut significant revenue. The state still does not require a driver’s license or other photo ID to vote; instead, voters must attest under penalty of law that they are U.S. citizens, a contrast Republicans and conservative groups are seizing on as evidence of Democratic "hypocrisy" on ID requirements. At the federal level, both Connecticut senators, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, recently voted against advancing the GOP‑backed SAVE Act (S. 1383), which would add nationwide photo‑ID and proof‑of‑citizenship requirements for federal voter registration and elections after the House passed it 218–213 on Feb. 11. Blumenthal told Fox News the SAVE Act is not a voter ID bill but a "voter purge bill" because it would require documents such as birth certificates or passports that he says 21 million Americans lack, while Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Raphael Warnock, in floor speeches opposing the bill, acknowledged that some non‑citizen voting is possible but argued the evidence shows it is extremely rare. The juxtaposition between Connecticut’s new recycling ID mandate and its delegation’s stance against stricter federal voter ID rules is fueling partisan messaging battles online, with Republicans emphasizing fraud risks and Democrats warning of disenfranchisement.
📌 Key Facts
- Connecticut’s SB 299, introduced as an emergency certification bill by Democratic leaders, was passed in late February and signed by Gov. Ned Lamont on March 3, requiring a copy of a driver’s license for anyone redeeming more than 1,000 cans or bottles in a day.
- The law targets cross‑border redemption fraud driven by Connecticut’s 10‑cent deposit, after officials said non‑residents were exploiting the higher rate and costing the state significant revenue.
- Connecticut voters are not required to show a driver’s license to vote, only to attest to citizenship under penalty of law, while Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy both voted against advancing the SAVE Act voter ID and proof‑of‑citizenship bill in a 51–48 Senate vote this week.
- Blumenthal argues the SAVE Act would function as a "voter purge bill" because it requires documents he says 21 million Americans do not have, while Schumer said on the Senate floor that "the evidence is that almost no illegal aliens vote."
📊 Relevant Data
In the 2024 general election in Michigan, there were 16 credible cases of noncitizen voting out of 5.7 million votes cast, equating to a rate of 0.00028%.
Despite grand claims, a new report shows noncitizen voting hasn't materialized — WBUR (NPR affiliate)
Over 21.3 million eligible US voters (9% of voting-age American citizens) do not have or do not have easy access to documentary proof of citizenship, such as a US birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship.
Who Lacks Documentary Proof of Citizenship? — Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, University of Maryland
People of Color in the US are more likely (11%) than White people (8%) to lack documentary proof of citizenship or easy access to it, though more White people (over 12.9 million) than People of Color (8.5 million) are affected in absolute numbers.
Who Lacks Documentary Proof of Citizenship? — Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, University of Maryland
Males in the US are more likely (11%) than females (8%) to lack documentary proof of citizenship or easy access to it, with nearly 3 times as many males (over 2.8 million, 2.5%) as females (over 1 million, 0.9%) lacking any such documents at all.
Who Lacks Documentary Proof of Citizenship? — Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, University of Maryland
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act) abolished national origins quotas, leading to significant increases in immigration from Asia and Latin America, which has been instrumental in shaping modern US demographic changes and increasing the immigrant population eligible to naturalize and vote.
A Century Later, Restrictive 1924 U.S. Immigration Law Has Reverberations — Migration Policy Institute
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