The House has passed a bill requiring Americans to show a passport or birth certificate to register to vote. The Senate has blocked it three times.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — the SAVE America Act — passed the House on February 11 with all 217 Republicans voting in favor. One Democrat voted yes. The bill requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register, mandates photo ID to vote in federal elections, requires anyone who registers by mail to appear in person at an election office with proof of citizenship, and directs states to run voter rolls through the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration verification database quarterly.
The Senate voted 51-45 today, the third time the measure has failed. Passage requires 60 votes. Republicans hold 53 seats. They need seven Democrats to cross over, and none — except Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania — have moved.
Some Republicans are pushing to convert the filibuster into a literal talking requirement, forcing Democrats to hold the floor rather than block the bill through a procedural vote. House Freedom Caucus members are pressing harder. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas called on the House to halt consideration of Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s priorities until the SAVE America Act reaches the president’s desk.
President Trump has pushed Congress to pass the bill for weeks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday it remains a presidential priority, though administration focus has shifted to the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Primary elections for the 2026 midterms are already underway. Early voting has begun in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas. All provisions of the bill would take effect immediately upon enactment — rewriting voter registration rules in the middle of an active election cycle.
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