By SUZANNE DOWNING
Sen. Lisa Murkowski is facing renewed scrutiny after posting her opposition to the federal SAVE Act, arguing that Congress should not impose national election rules on states. Readers on the social media site X quickly added “reader context” noting she previously voted to advance sweeping federal election reforms in 2021.
In a statement posted on X, Murkowski said Republicans were united in opposition to Democratic election legislation in 2021 because it would have “federalized elections,” and she argued that current proposals such as the SAVE Act would do the same.
“When Democrats attempted to advance sweeping election reform legislation in 2021, Republicans were unanimous in opposition because it would have federalized elections, something we have long opposed,” Murkowski wrote. “Now, I’m seeing proposals such as the SAVE Act and MEGA that would effectively do just that. Once again, I do not support these efforts.”
Murkowski cited the Constitution’s grant of authority to states to regulate the “times, places, and manner” of holding federal elections, saying that mandates from Washington often fail to fit Alaska’s unique conditions.
“One-size-fits-all mandates from Washington, D.C., seldom work in places like Alaska,” she wrote.
Breaking: Sen. Lisa Murkowski opposes voter ID law
She also warned that implementing new federal election requirements close to Election Day could strain election officials and disrupt preparations already underway.
“Election Day is fast approaching. Imposing new federal requirements now, when states are deep into their preparations, would negatively impact election integrity by forcing election officials to scramble to adhere to new policies likely without the necessary resources,” Murkowski said.
But beneath her post, users added a “Readers Context” note pointing out that Murkowski’s own voting record complicates her current stance. The note states that Murkowski voted to advance the very 2021 voter reforms she referenced, making her the only Republican senator to do so.
That vote occurred in November 2021, when Murkowski broke with her party to support a procedural motion advancing Democrats’ voting rights legislation, according to Alaska Public Media and the official Senate roll call.
Murkowski’s argument also centers on the Elections Clause of the Constitution, which does give states the primary role in running elections. However, the same clause explicitly grants Congress authority to intervene.
To be specific, Article I, Section 4 states that while states prescribe election regulations, “the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.”
The constitutional debate over where state authority ends and federal authority begins remains at the heart of disputes over voter ID laws, election integrity measures, and voting rights legislation.
Murkowski’s opposition to the SAVE Act places her at odds with many Republicans pushing for national voter identification standards, while her lone 2021 vote continues to fuel criticism that her position on federal election mandates has shifted over time.
7 thoughts on “A Murkowski moment: Senator who opposes voter ID is checkmated by her own voting record”
The explanation for this idiotic position and the hypocrisy is simple…..acute Trump Derangement Syndrome. 87% of Americans support voter ID. Even in order to get food stamps voter ID is required. Murkowski continues to harm her constituents to stick it to Trump and get the camera on her smuck. She is despicable. It’s all about her. Her holding office is at this stage a conflict of interest. Don’t go away mad just go away.
Dem Bones!
Our very own Liz Cheney! We should all be so proud…
You’d like to think a sitting US Senator would be familiar with the US Constitution, obviously in this case that’s not true and in many cases it isn’t true. But when that sitting US Senator specifically cites that section of the US Constitution they should at least have had read the entire 44 word sentence.
Murkowski. Hypocrisy. Peanut butter. Jelly.
Oh, Lisa Murkowski (aka: Daddy’s Little Princess), the so-called “Republican” Senator who’s more interested in playing footsie with Democrats and protecting her precious federal pork barrel than actually draining the swamp of entitlement fraud that’s bleeding American taxpayers dry. You’ve got the nerve to call yourself a conservative while turning a blind eye to the $36 billion—hell, potentially $3 trillion—in stolen funds since 2020. Traitorous? Absolutely, because every day you sit on your hands, you’re betraying the hardworking Alaskans who elected you, not to mention the rest of us footing the bill for this corrupt entitlement racket.
Let’s not mince words: You’re the poster child for why Congress won’t fix this overnight, even though they could. You’ve built your career on sucking up federal dollars for Alaska—$466 million in earmarks just last year alone, much of it propping up the very programs riddled with fraud like Medicaid and Medicare. And for what? To keep your centrist, bipartisan facade intact while the system rewards thieves, insurance giants, and grifters with our money? Your defense of Obamacare expansions and opposition to real reforms like work requirements or block grants isn’t moderation—it’s complicity in a system that traps people in dependency and inflates healthcare costs for everyone else. You criticized Elon Musk for calling out Social Security fraud, whining about “anxiety” for recipients, but where’s your outrage for the taxpayers getting screwed?
Alaska & Alaskan’s deserve better than a “traitorous” senator who’s more loyal to the status quo than to fiscal sanity. Your slim-majority excuses don’t fly— you’ve been the swing vote blocking meaningful changes time and again, all while securing your kickbacks for state projects. If a borrowing collapse hits in the next few years, it’ll be on “traitorous” enablers like you. Step up, Murkowski, or step aside—your “traitorous” treachery is costing us trillions, and we’re done with RINOs like you who talk ‘chit’ but deliver nothing but more debt and deception.
You go, Rob!
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You are right on the money here with every word damning Alaska’s pet swamp creature.