Conservative Group Launches $5M Ad Blitz to Pressure Senate on Federal Voter ID and SAVE America Act
Conservative nonprofit Restoration of America is launching a $5 million national advertising campaign Monday to pressure the U.S. Senate to pass federal voter ID legislation and elements of the SAVE America Act, as Republicans prepare to move parts of the package through budget reconciliation without Democratic support. The group told Fox News Digital the blitz includes a $3.1 million national television buy plus a digital push aimed at swing states, timed to coincide with a congressional recess that has senators back in their home states. A 30‑second spot titled "Save America" claims that 83% of Americans support requiring photo ID to vote, argues that "most of the civilized world" already does so, and criticizes both Democrats for opposing voter ID and Republicans for failing to act. The ad urges viewers to call their senators and "tell them to pass the Save America Act today," framing the bill as necessary to ensure that "only eligible Americans are casting ballots." Senate Republicans including Lindsey Graham and Majority Whip John Barrasso have said they intend to fold SAVE America Act provisions into a broader package later this year and are "prepared to go it alone" under a June 1 deadline set by President Trump, raising the stakes of outside pressure campaigns like this one for the future of federal election law.
📌 Key Facts
- Restoration of America is spending $5 million on a nationwide ad blitz, including a $3.1 million national TV buy plus digital ads focused on swing states.
- The campaign’s 30‑second "Save America" spot claims 83% of Americans back photo ID requirements to vote and urges viewers to call their U.S. senators.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham says Republicans plan to include pieces of the SAVE America Act in a larger package moved through reconciliation, while Sen. John Barrasso says the party is prepared to "go it alone" under a June 1 deadline set by President Trump.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2023, 28% of Black adult U.S. citizens and 27% of Hispanic adult U.S. citizens do not have a driver's license with their current name and/or address, compared to 18% of White adult U.S. citizens.
Who Lacks ID in America Today? An Exploration of Voter ID Possession and Barriers — Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland
In 2020, 6.2% of Black non-Hispanic voting-age U.S. citizens and 6.1% of Hispanic voting-age U.S. citizens lacked any form of non-expired government-issued photo ID, compared to 2.3% of White non-Hispanic voting-age U.S. citizens.
Who Didn't Have Photo ID In 2020? Millions of Americans — VoteRiders
Support for requiring photo ID to vote is 76% among Black Americans, 82% among Latino Americans, and 85% among White Americans, based on recent polling.
A new CNN report says broad majorities of Americans support nationwide voter ID laws — CNN (via Facebook post summary)
Voter fraud in U.S. elections is extremely rare, with studies finding rates as low as 0.00006% for mail-in ballot fraud nationally.
Electoral fraud in the United States — Wikipedia
Strict voter ID laws lead to a greater decline in turnout in racially diverse counties compared to less diverse ones, with turnout in counties with 75% non-White population declining 1.5 points more in states adopting such laws.
Voter ID laws discriminate against racial and ethnic minorities, new study reveals — YubaNet
The racial turnout gap between White and non-White voters grew almost twice as quickly in jurisdictions formerly covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act after its effective gutting in 2013, coinciding with increased restrictive voting laws including voter ID.
Growing Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout, 2008–2022 — Brennan Center for Justice
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time