Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., stated Tuesday that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is personally blocking passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act and urged voters to pressure colleagues to force the bill to the floor, including by attaching it to a reauthorization of federal surveillance authority.
Her remarks come as the election-integrity bill—designed to require documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and photo identification for ballot casting—remains stalled in the Senate more than two months after House approval on a 218-213 vote.
When asked about the delay, Boebert identified Thune directly. “John Thune is the holdup,” she said, arguing he has “proven that he can take the heat” and remains “immovable on the subject.”
She urged Thune to scrap the 60-vote threshold for Senate debate and bring the measure to a vote, telling viewers he must “nuke the filibuster” and send the bill to President Donald Trump.
Boebert also proposed a procedural workaround: attaching the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act to legislation reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. She stated that FISA “should never be reauthorized,” but lawmakers should require warrants before the government spies on American citizens and prohibit federal agencies from purchasing data from private companies.
“The Fourth Amendment is not for sale,” she added.
Her pitch aligns with a broader push by House conservatives.
Thune indicated in March he would bring the measure to the floor but rejected requests from Trump and allies to alter Senate procedure, effectively ensuring the bill would fall short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, and no Democrats have signaled support for the legislation.
At a recent Colorado event with conservative organizer Scott Presler, Boebert reported strong grassroots interest. She noted that voters she spoke with were unfamiliar with other measures highlighted by the Senate but uniformly recognized the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act and wanted it passed.
