Senate Minority Leader Schumer Misstates In-Person Voter Registration Rate

The SAVE America Act would require in-person voter registration, but Schumer's claim about current rates is inaccurate.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:35pm

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer claimed the SAVE America Act would force Americans to register to vote only in person, something he said only 5% of Americans do today. However, federal data shows the percentage of voters who register in person is significantly higher than Schumer's claim, between 11% and 42% depending on how registrations at motor vehicle agencies are counted.

Why it matters

The SAVE America Act has become a major point of contention between Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats arguing it would create unnecessary barriers to voter registration. Schumer's inaccurate claim about current in-person registration rates could undermine the Democrats' case against the legislation.

The details

The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of citizenship be presented in person to register to vote. Schumer is correct that the act would mandate in-person registration, but he significantly underestimated the current rate of in-person voter registration. Federal data shows between 11% and 42% of voters registered in person before the 2024 election, depending on how registrations at motor vehicle agencies are counted.

  • The House passed the SAVE America Act in February 2026.
  • The Senate began several days of debate about the bill on March 17, 2026.

The players

Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader, a Democrat from New York.

Eliza Sweren-Becker

Deputy director for the voting rights and election program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

Matthew Weil

Vice president for governance at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank.

Lisa Bryant

A political scientist at California State University-Fresno.

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What they’re saying

“The act "would force Americans to register (to vote) only in person, something only 5% of Americans do today,”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

“Clearly, more than the 5% or 6% going to elections offices are registering in person.”

— Matthew Weil, Vice president for governance at the Bipartisan Policy Center

“A sizable share of Americans do register online and by mail, sharing their drivers license information for identity verification or showing ID when they vote. These convenient options will very likely disappear if SAVE were passed.”

— Lisa Bryant, Political scientist at California State University-Fresno

What’s next

The Senate is expected to continue debating the SAVE America Act in the coming days, with Democrats pushing back against the in-person voter registration requirement.

The takeaway

Schumer's claim about the current rate of in-person voter registration being only 5% is inaccurate, as federal data shows the actual rate is significantly higher. This could undermine the Democrats' arguments against the SAVE America Act, which aims to mandate in-person registration.