Congress Should Attach the SAVE Act to FISA Renewal to Ensure Election Integrity
Source: M.D. Kittle. "Cuccinelli: Attach SAVE Act To FISA Renewal." June 10, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that since Congress is rushing to renew surveillance powers under FISA, Republicans should force them to also pass voter ID and citizenship verification laws by bundling them together. If surveillance is urgent enough to rush through, then election security should be treated with the same urgency.
Conclusion
Congress should attach the SAVE America Act (requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID for voting) to the FISA Section 702 reauthorization to force passage of critical election integrity measures
Premises
- Congress treats FISA renewal as urgent 'must-pass' legislation due to national security concerns
- The SAVE Act has repeatedly passed the House but is blocked by Senate Democrats using the filibuster
- Election integrity is as important to America's security as foreign intelligence surveillance
- Voter ID requirements are extremely popular with the American public
- Democrats oppose election integrity measures because such measures would cost them elections
- States like California demonstrate the problems of weak election security through suspect electoral outcomes
- Congressional Republicans and Democrats who support FISA renewal would be forced to accept the SAVE Act to get their surveillance powers
Assumptions
- The SAVE Act represents genuine election integrity rather than voter suppression
- FISA supporters value surveillance powers enough to accept election integrity requirements
- Current election systems without strict ID requirements are inherently insecure or fraudulent
- Legislative hostage-taking is an acceptable political tactic for important issues
- Public support for voter ID translates to support for the broader SAVE Act provisions