Requiring voter identification and proof of citizenship is "very common," Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks told Newsmax on Wednesday while backing the SAVE America Act.
"Let's be honest, you have to have an ID card to buy a beer to board a plane," the Iowa Republican said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America." "I had to show proof of citizenship when I ... was appointed as director of the Department of Public Health in Iowa."
She also pushed back against Democrats labeling voter ID as "Jim Crow 2.0," pointing to past comments by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who spoke out about supporting proof of identity to prevent fraud.
Miller-Meeks cited polling support for voter ID and said states that adopted election integrity measures did not see turnout decline.
"The vast majority of Americans — 83%, including over 70% of Democrats — agree with voter ID," she said, noting that 36 states already require identification to vote.
"When we passed election integrity laws in Iowa, and I did two rounds of that when I was a state senator, we didn't have any reduction in the number of people who voted," said Miller-Meeks. "In fact, we had more people vote because they're confident their vote counts."
She also pointed to close elections as evidence that even small numbers of improper ballots can matter.
"When I won this congressional race in 2020, after all of the recounts, I won by six votes," Miller-Meeks said. "So it doesn't matter if fraud is infinitesimal. One illegal vote counteracts and reduces the impact of a legal voter."
The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, with supporters saying it targets illegal voting and critics warning it could block eligible voters who lack documents.
Miller-Meeks also weighed in on the ongoing partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, saying a Democrat counteroffer "was rejected by the White House" and criticizing the impact on workers and disaster response.
"It's TSA who is already forced to work without pay," she said, adding that missed paychecks create pressure.
"People have bills to pay, mortgages to pay, rent, car payments," she said. "They have to put food on the table for their families."
She said Republicans could accept some enforcement-related measures but blamed Democrats for the stalemate.
"The Republicans would be fine with requiring body cameras on Customs and Border Protection or ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents," Miller-Meeks said.
"It's the sanctuary city policies, by not having local law enforcement help with ICE to remove violent, criminal illegal aliens from those cities that are making people less safe," she noted.
GET TODAY NEWSMAX :
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.