Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville is advising his party to cease its opposition to voter identification requirements, asserting that the issue garners significant public support and that Democrats are losing the argument.
Carville suggested that Democrats should concede the fight over voter ID laws and shift focus to other issues. He noted that while he believes voter fraud is a negligible concern, the public's perception and the strong polling numbers in favor of voter ID make it a difficult battle for Democrats to win.
"For whatever reason, this s--- polls at 75%," Carville said on "Politics War Room," referring to public support for some form of voter identification. "We are not going to win the war against some kind of ID. It doesn't make any sense. It doesn't fix anything, but maybe you just go along with it and move to the next thing."
He proposed that Democrats should be open to a baseline standard, suggesting the voter identification requirements in Louisiana, his home state, as a potential model. This would involve showing a form of identification, such as a driver's license, to vote. Carville emphasized that his stance is not an endorsement of Republican proposals like the SAVE Act, which he believes creates undue hurdles, but rather a strategic retreat on an issue where the party appears out of step with public opinion.
Carville's co-host, Al Hunt, expressed some disagreement, pointing out that most states already have voter ID laws and that proposals like the SAVE Act introduce new requirements, such as proof of citizenship, which could disenfranchise certain voters. He also noted that women who have changed their surnames after marriage might face difficulties.
Despite these concerns, Carville reiterated his position that the Democratic Party's current stance on voter ID is counterproductive. He argued that it creates an perception that the party is not interested in verifying voter eligibility, even if that is not the case. "It's all a stupid argument," Carville stated, "But maybe we could just come up with a simple thing and just say, ‘Okay, we're for this. Bye. Thank you.’ Get the hell out of this argument."
Republicans in Congress have been advancing legislation, such as the SAVE Act, which would implement federal mandates for proof of citizenship in voter registration and require photo identification for federal elections. Carville's comments come amid these ongoing legislative efforts.