The House just passed the SAVE America Act - national voter ID + proof of citizenship to register. On the Independent Voter Podcast, we unpack what’s in the bill, why polls show broad support for voter ID, and the sticking points: which IDs count (student ID?), costs (should IDs be free?), and whether new rules could block eligible voters before 2026.

Episode Highlights

In this episode of the Independent Voter Podcast, Cara, Chad, Ethan and Shawn break down developments in election reform, redistricting lawsuits, ranked choice voting (RCV), and voter ID legislation across multiple states.

The conversation begins with the ongoing Missouri gerrymandering battle, where candidates may be forced to file for congressional races before courts determine whether the state's new congressional map will stand. Reformers argue this legal uncertainty undermines election integrity, voter confidence, and ballot access.

It also raises concerns about how last-minute court decisions can impact primaries and general elections. The discussion highlights broader national debates over fair maps, ballot initiatives, signature verification, and democratic process protections.

We then turn to ranked choice voting in Maine and California’s nonpartisan primary system and examine how election rules are sometimes changed mid-cycle and how political consultants often discourage candidates from embracing popular reforms.

Despite polling that shows bipartisan support for open primaries, top-four systems, and ranked choice voting expansion, elected officials hesitate to champion structural reforms that could increase voter participation and reduce political polarization.

Instead, they ignore or shun these reforms despite public opinion.

Finally, the podcast tackles two nationally trending issues: the stalled congressional stock trading ban and renewed debate over the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) and federal voter ID requirements.

We talk about the bipartisan public support for banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks, while criticizing partisan gridlock that prevents reform from reaching a floor vote. Polling shows this is an 80-20 issue just like voter ID requirements – another issue muddled by partisan politics.

There are ongoing disputes over proof of citizenship requirements in the SAVE Act, and efforts to go further with bans on universal mail-in ballots, prohibitions on ballot harvesting, stricter voter roll maintenance, and chain of custody protections – issues that deserver greater nuance.

Throughout the episode, the central theme remains clear: Americans broadly support common-sense reforms to strengthen election integrity and government accountability, but partisan strategy and fundraising incentives continue to stall meaningful change.