Voter ID bill: Trump urges Republicans to skip Easter recess

US President Donald Trump has urged Republicans in Congress to cancel their planned Easter recess and resume work on passing a voter ID bill, as Democrats oppose the measure.

Under the proposal, voters would be required to provide proof of US citizenship when registering and to show photo identification on election day. Republicans hold 53 seats in the 100-member Senate, short of the 60 needed to pass the legislation.

Trump has also called for the voter ID bill to be included in a funding agreement for the Department of Homeland Security, parts of which have been shut down since 13 February amid a dispute with Democrats over immigration policy.

Trump urged Republican senators to act immediately and to forgo the Easter recess. ‘Don’t worry about Easter or going home. Do it for Jesus,’ he said in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lawmakers are due to begin a two-week recess for the Easter holiday at the end of the week.

(reuters, mja)