Conservative CNBC "Squawk Box" host Joe Kernen appeared to give away the Republican gameplan with new proposals around the SAVE Act.
Speaking to Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) on Friday, Kernen said that without the SAVE Act, "Democrats will never lose again."
The conversation initially focused on the immigration debate and a bipartisan bill crafted before the 2024 election, which Republicans ultimately blocked at President Donald Trump's direction.
Once Coons brought up that measure, Kernen quickly changed the subject to cite "conspiracy theories why you'd let in 10 million undocumented Democrats."
"They're not Democrats," said Coons said seemingly confused and laughing uncomfortably.
"I'm kidding," Kernen claimed before adding, "I'm saying that's the whole — that — and you don't want — no ID voting at the same time you let in all these illegal."
"I have to show an ID every time I vote in Delaware," Coons said.
Most states require some form of identification when voting, and most also require ID for voter registration. The GOP bill would force voters to bring an "enhanced" ID to the polls.
"But you see what I'm saying," continued Kernen. "You see what I'm saying? Democrats will never lose again if left to their own devices."
"That isn't true, as you well know," Coons replied.
"God help," said Kernen.
The GOP's Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act would usher in a slate of voting restrictions beyond voter ID laws. The ID portion of the restrictions includes not only the requirement to use a photo ID to vote, but also the requirement to use only the new REAL ID. Such an ID costs around $50, depending on the state, so voting would no longer be free.
REAL ID is a new identification system being rolled out nationwide, but it isn't required in most states. The "Real ID" act was passed 20 years ago and gave citizens two decades to prepare for enhanced IDs to get on a plane. While airlines prefer it, fliers who don't have one yet can still get on a plane, but they are fined $45 for not having the enhanced "Real ID."
IDs such as a military ID, a student ID, a birth certificate, a Social Security Card, a non-enhanced driver's license, or a non-enhanced state ID would all be unusable under the SAVE Act.
Several pro-women groups have also noted that in some cases a photo ID doesn't match other forms of ID, such as a birth certificate, because women change their names when they get married. It would add additional requirements for married women to go through the process to ensure all of their documents match before registering to vote.
Trump has also called for nationalized elections, where his federal agents would take over the voting in Democratic states.