Republicans in the House of Representatives have unveiled the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act, a national voting bill designed to bolster election integrity and restore public trust in the electoral process. This move comes amidst strong pushback against what Republicans call "false narratives" from Democrats, who have labeled similar policies as "racist" and "Jim Crow 2.0."

The bill's introduction took place in Atlanta, Georgia, a location chosen deliberately following controversy surrounding Georgia's 2021 state election law, which shares some provisions with the ACE Act. House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) criticized Democrats for spreading misinformation about the Georgia law, citing record voter turnout in the 2022 midterms as evidence that such measures do not suppress voting.

Rep. Steil emphasized the importance of voter confidence in driving participation and expressed his commitment to countering what he sees as misleading Democratic rhetoric about the ACE Act. He highlighted the bill's focus on providing states with resources to enhance voter integrity and maintain accurate voter rolls.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), temporarily added to the committee for the field hearing, underscored the significance of holding the event in Georgia, citing concerns about potential election fraud. She rejected Democratic accusations of racism, arguing that requiring voter ID is a reasonable measure to ensure secure elections. Rep. Greene emphasized the importance of limiting voting to U.S. citizens.

While Democratic committee members declined to comment after the hearing, Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), also temporarily on the committee, briefly stated her belief in the importance of ballot access for all. The bill faces an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled Senate and is unlikely to receive President Biden's signature.