The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act, is a bill being pushed by US President Donald Trump that would mean stricter requirements in order to vote. Republicans are describing it as a necessary step to ensure election integrity, while Democrats see it as a voter suppression measure.
It would be an amendment to the 1993 Voter Registration Act, which simplified and expanded the voter registration process by making it available when renewing one's driver’s licence and prevented states from removing people from voter rolls without cause.
The bill was passed in the House in April 2025, though it has failed to pass in the Senate as of July 2026. Republican leadership are looking at their options. What are the bill's main components? The bill requires proof of US citizenship, which could include a passport, a birth certificate, a state identification card, a birth certificate, a naturalisation certificate, or a Native American ID card.
In-person verification would mean presenting one’s proof of citizenship to election officials. Voter ID would be required to vote in federal elections.
Anyone updating their voting registration would need to comply with these new regulations. The bill could potentially make voter registration more difficult for women who have changed their last name after marriage, as the name on their ID would be different from that of their birth certificate.
The bill would also require the removal of non-citizens from voter rolls, though the participation of foreigners in US elections is extremely rare.
States would be responsible for meeting these new federal standards, though it is unclear if they would receive funding for these new requirements. What is the current system of voter registration? Under the current system, voters swear, under penalty of perjury, that they are US citizens. Their address is also matched with their voter registration at the polling booth. Some states require a photo ID to vote, while others don’t. How did the SAVE America Act come about? This specific bill has its origins in US President Donald Trump 's claim that the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden , was rigged. Before that, Republicans have long been advocating for tighter restrictions on voting.
An executive order signed by Trump in March 2025 instructs the Election Assistance Commission to require proof of citizenship of voters. He has suggested, without proof, that undocumented immigrants, who do not quality to vote, affected the outcome of the election. In June 2026, a federal judge blocked Trump’s order, saying the president lacked the constitutional authority to oversee elections. What are people saying? House Speaker Mike Johnson appears determined to get the bill passed.
"The president has that as a top priority, and so do I," Johnson told Fox News earlier this month, according to a report by The Hill . "We passed it three times in the House. We're going to try one more time on a budget reconciliation bill, and I think that will be the way to get it through the Senate, and finally, to the president's desk."
In March, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont wrote in a post on X that the bill would disenfranchise millions of voters.
"Trump and his friends are in political trouble. Their response? Make it harder for you to vote and disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans," he wrote. "Trump said it out loud: If they pass the SAVE Act, Republicans will 'never lose a race for 50 years.' Vote NO." How is Trump pushing for this legislation to pass? Trump has said on multiple occasions that he would not sign other legislation until the SAVE Act is passed. He has also suggested it is necessary to stop the spread of communism. Trump has said that passage of the act would guarantee the midterms.
"It will guarantee the midterms. If you don't get it, big trouble," Trump said at a House Republican conference in Florida in March, according to a report by The Hill .
"The people are demanding it. Every time I go out, save America! Save America! We want the SAVE America Act! That's all they talk about. They don't talk about housing. They don't talk about anything. That's what they talk about. And if you send it up there, you will win the midterms and you will win every election for a long time," Trump reportedly said. How likely is it to pass? As things currently stand, the SAVE Act is highly unlikely to pass. Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, and 60 votes are required to pass the bill. Democrats are solidly against it.
There are, however, multiple ways in which voting rights and access could be affected prior to the midterms. This includes ongoing redistricting efforts, and state and local regulations that could limit voting hours and locations.