US House Approves Bill Mandating Proof of Citizenship for Voting in Federal Elections

The legislation faces opposition in the Senate as critics argue it would disenfranchise millions of Americans without passports or birth certificates.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require voters to produce a passport or birth certificate to register for federal elections. The 218-213 vote split largely along party lines, with one Democrat breaking ranks to support the measure. Republicans argue the 'Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act' will prevent noncitizens from voting, while Democrats and voting rights advocates criticize it as a 'show your papers' law that would disenfranchise millions.

Why it matters

The bill follows a broader push by Republicans to tighten voting rules, including efforts to redraw congressional districts and lawsuits demanding voter rolls from Democratic-led states. Critics say the timing of the measure, if enacted, would cause 'maximum chaos' right before the midterm elections by changing the rules governing voter registration.

The details

The legislation would require each state to send an 'official list of eligible voters for federal office' to the Department of Homeland Security to be checked against the department's database. Republicans argue this will ensure only U.S. citizens vote, while Democrats say it amounts to a 'blatant power grab' that will block Americans from voting.

  • The U.S. House passed the legislation on February 11, 2026.
  • The bill would take effect immediately if passed by the Senate and signed into law by former President Trump.

The players

U.S. House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the U.S. Congress that passed the 'Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act' in a 218-213 vote.

Rep. Henry Cuellar

A Democratic representative from Texas who broke with his party to support the measure.

Rep. Greg Murphy

A Republican representative from North Carolina who did not vote on the bill.

Sen. Mike Lee

The Republican senator from Utah who has sponsored the Senate version of the bill.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

The Republican senator from Alaska who has stated she will not support the Senate version of the bill.

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What they’re saying

“Republicans know that they cannot win on the merits, so rather than change their policies, they're seeking to change the rules. John Lewis was not bludgeoned on a bridge in my hometown for the Republicans and Donald Trump to take these rules away from us.”

— Rep. Terri Sewell, Democratic Representative from Alabama (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“A change of this magnitude to our election system right before an election would be not only terrible in substance in that it would block Americans from voting, but would also be chaos-causing.”

— Sean Morales-Doyle, Director of Voting Rights and Elections at the Brennan Center for Justice (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“House Republicans and President Trump want to protect the ballot box and ensure integrity in our elections across this great country.”

— Rep. Tim Burchett, Republican Representative from Tennessee (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“Not only does the U.S. Constitution clearly provide states the authority to regulate the 'times, places, and manner' of holding federal elections, but one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington, D.C., seldom work in places like Alaska.”

— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Twitter)

What’s next

The Senate is considering its own version of the bill, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski has already stated she will not support the legislation.

The takeaway

This bill is part of a broader Republican effort to tighten voting rules, which critics argue is a 'blatant power grab' aimed at disenfranchising millions of Americans. The timing of the measure, if enacted, could cause significant disruption and chaos in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections.