The Senate will debate through the weekend legislation to prevent noncitizens from voting as Republicans continue to mull the best strategy for bringing the measure to a final vote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, has not rushed to cut off debate on the SAVE America Act, like he would for most legislation. The process for doing so, filing a cloture motion, requires 60 votes to end debate, meaning Democrats can block the legislation from advancing.
The SAVE America Act requires proof of citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot.
Republicans have filed amendments to add other priorities that President Trump asked for, including restrictions on mail-in voting and bans on transgender surgeries for minors and biological men playing in women’s sports.
Mr. Thune said Thursday he would use the cloture process to bring at least one amendment to a vote, but he declined to say which.
“I’m going to be probably in the next day or so filing on, to set up a vote on an amendment, which could pop over the weekend,” he said.
Sen. Mike Lee, Utah Republican and lead sponsor of the SAVE America Act, has urged Mr. Thune not to file cloture on the bill unless Republicans have flipped enough Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to end debate.
Mr. Lee said he views that as a likelier outcome than fully exercising the talking filibuster to exhaust Democrats to the point where Republicans can call a final vote on the bill at a simple-majority threshold.
Mr. Thune has expressed doubt that either approach will lead to a successful outcome, but is letting the debate play out for now.
He said the Senate will take a brief break from the SAVE America Act debate this weekend or early next week to confirm Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Mullin’s nomination was reported out of committee on Thursday.
