Republicans Tie Government Shutdown to Voter Fraud Concerns

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) believes voters prioritize secure elections over a government shutdown, as Congress faces a September deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.

As Congress reconvenes after its summer recess, the pressure is mounting to find an agreement on funding the government and avoiding a partial government shutdown by October 1st. While a short-term funding extension known as a Continuing Resolution (CR) is likely to be needed to buy negotiators more time, conservatives within the House are pushing for a more comprehensive solution.

One of the most vocal advocates for this approach is Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who believes that American voters are deeply concerned about the integrity of elections. Roy argues that a partial government shutdown would be a consequence of Democrats' unwillingness to address the issue of voter fraud.

Republicans Tie Government Shutdown to Voter Fraud Concerns

"My constituents want [honest elections], they want a secure border, they don't really give two flying s---s about the government funding," Roy stated in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Roy and other conservative rebels in the House are urging Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to pair a CR with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which requires proof of citizenship for voter registration. However, this bill has been met with strong opposition from the White House and Senate Democrats, making it a nonstarter for them.

Republicans Tie Government Shutdown to Voter Fraud Concerns

Furthermore, both parties are wary about the implications of a partial government shutdown just weeks before the midterm elections. Roy declined to explicitly state whether he would support a shutdown, but he suggested that the blame would fall on Democrats rather than Republicans.

"I'm not going to play the shutdown game ... the press wants to make it about a shutdown. Democrats want to make this about a shutdown," Roy said. "Our point is pretty simple. We're offering to fund the government – all manners of sin, by the way, in that government…we're willing to do that, but these guys need to make sure our elections are secure."

Republicans Tie Government Shutdown to Voter Fraud Concerns

Sources within the House GOP leadership have indicated that pairing the SAVE Act with a CR through March is one plan being considered. However, Speaker Johnson's office has not confirmed whether this will be their official approach.

Former President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the issue, urging Republicans to "shut down the government" if the Senate does not approve the SAVE Act.

Republicans Tie Government Shutdown to Voter Fraud Concerns

Meanwhile, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) has expressed support for a CR through December but doubts the SAVE Act would be attached, given that any final agreement would need to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate.

The comments by Rep. Roy serve as an early warning sign that funding the government in the next fiscal year could be a contentious issue, similar to last year's protracted battle that resulted in the ouster of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).