Oklahoma – Sen. James Lankford said only American citizens should be allowed to vote in U.S. elections and called for stronger voter identification requirements nationwide, arguing that every state should adopt policies similar to Oklahoma’s election laws.
Lankford, R-Okla., made the comments in a series of posts on social media, saying voters should be required to show identification to verify their eligibility and protect election integrity.
“Only American citizens should vote in American elections, and voters should show ID to prove it. Oklahoma requires voter ID in person and on our absentee ballots. Every state should do the same,” Lankford wrote.
The senator also renewed his support for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a Republican-backed proposal that would require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
Lankford said he has been an original cosponsor of the legislation and accused Democrats of repeatedly opposing the measure.
“I have been an original cosponsor of the SAVE America Act and voted for it every time it has come up for a vote. It is not that hard. Every Democrat has voted to block it, every time,” Lankford said.
The SAVE Act has become a major point of debate in Washington, with Republican lawmakers arguing the legislation is necessary to prevent noncitizens from participating in federal elections. Supporters of the bill say requiring citizenship verification would increase public confidence in elections.
Democrats and voting rights groups have opposed the measure, arguing that existing federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections and warning that additional documentation requirements could create barriers for eligible voters. Critics have also pointed to concerns that some eligible citizens may face difficulties providing certain documents required under the legislation.
The debate over voter identification and election security intensified following remarks from President Donald Trump regarding election integrity and the administration’s efforts to address concerns about voting procedures.
Lankford also criticized television networks over their coverage of the president’s address to the nation, accusing media organizations of showing bias by cutting away before the remarks began.
“The President of the United States addressed the nation tonight about safe and secure elections. Americans are fully able to decide for themselves, but the networks tried to make the decision for them by cutting off the President before he even spoke a word. That is bias at its clearest,” Lankford wrote.
The senator’s comments came as national discussions continued over election rules, voter access and the role of the federal government in setting standards for elections. Election administration remains largely controlled by states, with each state establishing its own procedures for voter registration, identification requirements and ballot access.
Oklahoma is among the states that require voters to present identification when voting in person. The state also has identification requirements for absentee voting, a policy Lankford highlighted as an example of what he believes should be adopted nationwide.
The SAVE Act has continued to draw attention in Congress as lawmakers debate whether additional federal requirements are needed to confirm voter eligibility. Supporters say the legislation would strengthen election security, while opponents argue it addresses a problem that is already prohibited by law and could affect access to voting.
Lankford has continued to make election security a focus of his work in the Senate, supporting measures he says are designed to protect the integrity of U.S. elections while maintaining public confidence in the voting process.
"Only American citizens should vote in American elections," Oklahoma Sen. Lankford responds after President Trump calls for secure elections and takes aim at voter ID debate
