The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on Wednesday on legislation that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship from those registering to vote in the November midterm elections. The measure, known as the SAVE America Act, includes criminal penalties for election officials who register anyone without the required paperwork and adds a photo identification requirement for future federal elections for voters casting ballots in person or using mail-in ballots.
Democrats denounced the legislation as a tactic aimed at reducing turnout among their voters ahead of an election that will determine control of Congress. Republican leaders argue the package responds to public concerns about election integrity, citing surveys such as a Pew Research Center poll that they say shows broad support for voter photo ID, including among Democrats.
The SAVE America Act is the most recent iteration of legislation that surfaced during the 2024 presidential campaign, driven in large part by assertions from former President Donald Trump alleging widespread voting by people in the United States illegally. Similar proposals passed the House on two previous occasions - last April and in 2024 - with backing from a handful of Democrats, but the measures stalled and died in the Senate.
The coming House vote follows a recent public call by Trump urging Republicans to "take over" elections in more than a dozen locations. Republican supporters of the bill say requiring proof of citizenship at the point of registration is a straightforward safeguard. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise described that requirement as a "real common sense" standard to protect American voters, saying, "Everybody understands what that means. If someone is stealing your vote, then they’re nullifying your vote."
Republicans have also written in a photo ID requirement to apply to subsequent federal elections, affecting both in-person and mail-in balloting. They point to polling data, including the referenced Pew Research Center survey, which they interpret as signaling broad voter backing for photo ID rules - a claim Republicans use to justify a shift in election procedures.
Opponents contend the measures would suppress turnout and skew the electorate. Democratic leaders maintain the legislation is intended to undercut their electoral prospects at a moment when independent analysts favor Democrats to take control of the House. Those concerns were underscored by a string of Democratic special election victories that Republicans view as a wake-up call, including a notable state Senate contest in Texas.
"Republicans are trying to lay the ground to undermine midterm elections that I think they feel concerned about losing on the merits," said Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, likening the citizenship requirement to the poll taxes once used in Southern U.S. states to dissuade voting by Blacks and poor Whites.
If the House approves the bill, it would still confront significant barriers in the Republican-led Senate, where passage would require 60 votes and thus support from a number of Senate Democrats. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has criticized the measure, calling it "Jim Crow 2.0."
Federal law already makes it illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections. Independent organizations across the ideological spectrum, as well as state election officials, have consistently found instances of non-citizen voting to be extremely rare. Nonetheless, advocates for the SAVE America Act argue the new rules are necessary to protect the franchise.
Critics warn of practical consequences for U.S. citizens who lack ready access to documents that prove their citizenship. The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law has cautioned that the SAVE America Act may disenfranchise millions of eligible voters who do not have passports, birth certificates or other forms of documentation readily available.
Advocates for election protection frame the bill as part of a broader dispute between the federal administration and state governments. They point to recent federal actions that have heightened tensions, including the withholding of federal funds, deployments of National Guard troops, and an FBI search of a county election office in Georgia. Mai Ratakonda, program director of election protection at States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan group, said, "We have checks and balances in place that include state and local officials acting as a check against federal overreach. That’s what the federal government is trying to undermine."
Republican leaders counter that the legislation is essential to restoring public confidence in the electoral process. House Speaker Mike Johnson was explicit in his critique of Democratic opposition, saying, "There’s only one logical reason the Democrats are opposing this. They want people to participate in elections who are not supposed to. That’s what the wide-open border was about."
Democrats attribute declines in public trust surrounding elections to repeated false claims of fraud, including assertions that non-citizen voting has been widespread and that the 2020 election was stolen. Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, told ABC News that Republicans have "created distrust in the elections by making claims of non-existent fraud," and described the SAVE America Act as a "voter suppression" law.
Separately, Republican lawmakers are preparing a broader election bill known as the Make Elections Great Again Act. That proposal would require the use of paper ballots, impose further limits on mail-in voting, and ban ranked-choice voting in federal general elections. The Make Elections Great Again Act was discussed at a hearing before the House Administration Committee on Tuesday, where members examined its provisions and implications.
Key points
- The SAVE America Act would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in the November midterms and add a photo ID requirement for subsequent federal elections.
- Democrats call the legislation a vote suppression tactic that could disenfranchise citizens lacking access to documentation; Republicans say it will restore confidence in election integrity.
- Passage in the House would not guarantee enactment - the bill faces long odds in the Senate, where it would need bipartisan support to reach 60 votes.
Sectors potentially affected
- Government administration and state election offices - changes to registration and ID requirements would alter administrative procedures and verification responsibilities.
- Legal and compliance services - increased litigation and compliance needs could arise as new rules are challenged or implemented.
- Voter services and technology vendors - systems for registration, ID verification and ballot processing could require modification to meet new mandates.
Risks and uncertainties
- Legal and legislative uncertainty - even if the House approves the SAVE America Act, it faces a challenging path in the Senate and potential court challenges.
- Operational risk for election administrators - imposing strict documentation requirements could complicate registration processes and create logistical strain for state and local officials.
- Political volatility - the measure deepens partisan divisions and follows recent federal-state clashes, introducing further uncertainty into the electoral environment.
Note: This article reports on the provisions and political debate surrounding proposed federal election legislation based on statements and developments cited by lawmakers, advocacy groups and officials.