Upholding the Rule of Law
Drive across Nebraska on a clear evening and you’ll see why we call it “The Good Life.” Small towns where neighbors still wave. Safe communities where kids ride their bikes home at dusk. Main streets where people know your name and your word still means something.
That kind of life doesn’t happen by accident. It exists because we respect the rule of law. We believe in fairness, and we take responsibility for our communities and for each other.
Those same Nebraska values should guide our elections.
In America, voting is how we determine the direction of our nation. Every time Nebraskans step into a polling place — from Scottsbluff to Nebraska City — we are not just casting a ballot. We are choosing the direction of our schools, our businesses, our communities, and our country.
The right to vote is sacred, and one that must be defended.
A recent Gallup poll builds on this sentiment, finding that 80% of Americans believe one should have to prove they are a U.S. citizen before voting. That overwhelming majority reinforces what we all know to be true: American elections should be decided by American citizens.
In Congress, I am proud to cosponsor commonsense legislation like the SAVE America Act, designed to protect and preserve that right.
The SAVE America Act would require individuals to present an eligible photo ID before voting. It would require proof of citizenship — in person — when registering to vote, and it would require states to remove non-citizens from existing voter rolls.
These are not radical ideas, but commonsense safeguards that reflect what a majority of Americans believe should be standard practice.
In Nebraska, we already understand this. You show ID to board a flight out of Scottsbluff or to enter a federal building. You need identification to open a bank account, buy certain products, or rent equipment. We don’t see those rules as burdens — we see them as responsible security measures.
Why should voting, one of the most important acts in a democracy, require less?
The Good Life is built on trust. Trust that our streets are safe. Trust that laws are enforced fairly. Trust that when election results are announced, they reflect the lawful will of the people.
If we allow even the possibility that non-U.S. citizens could participate in deciding our leaders, we risk weakening that trust. Let me be clear: defending our nation’s election integrity is not about limiting anyone’s rights.
Instead, it is about protecting the rights of American citizens while preserving confidence in the system that sustains our republic.
The Good Life depends on strong communities, clear rules, and equal application of the law. Protecting our elections through the SAVE America Act is one more way we uphold those values.
The House passage of the SAVE America Act marks an important first step toward strengthening safeguards, improving accountability, and reinforcing public trust in our democratic process.
At the end of the day, democracy only works when the rule of law does — and in Nebraska, we still believe in both.