House GOP pushes strict proof-of-citizenship requirement for voters ahead of midterm elections

The bill faces sharp blowback in the Senate as critics warn it will disenfranchise millions of Americans.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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House Republicans are rushing ahead on legislation that would impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements ahead of the midterm elections. The bill, called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, would require Americans to prove they are citizens when they register to vote, mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate. Republicans say the legislation is needed to prevent voter fraud, but Democrats warn it will disenfranchise millions of Americans by making it harder to vote.

Why it matters

The GOP's sudden push to change voting rules at the start of the midterm election season is raising red flags, particularly because President Donald Trump has suggested he wants to nationalize U.S. elections, which, under the Constitution, are designed to be run by individual states. Voting experts have warned that more than 20 million U.S. citizens of voting age do not have proof of their citizenship readily available.

The details

The bill would also require a valid photo identification before voters can cast ballots, which some states already demand. Federal law already requires that voters in national elections be U.S. citizens, but there's no requirement to provide documentary proof. Experts said voter fraud is extremely rare, and very few noncitizens ever slip through the cracks. Fewer than one in 10 Americans have valid passports.

  • The legislation is actually a do-over of a similar bill the House approved last year.
  • The new rules in the bill would take effect immediately, if the bill is passed by both chambers of Congress and signed into law.
  • With primary elections getting underway next month, critics said the sudden shift would be difficult for state election officials to implement and potentially confuse voters.

The players

Rep. Bryan Steil

A Republican from Wisconsin who presented the package at a committee hearing.

Rep. Jim McGovern

The top Democrat on the Rules Committee, who said the bill is "about Republicans trying to rig the next election".

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

A Republican from Alaska who said she is flat out against the legislation, arguing that "one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington, D.C., seldom work in places like Alaska".

Sen. Mike Lee

A Republican from Utah who has pushed for a process that would skip the 60-vote threshold in the Senate and allow the bill to be debated through a so-called standing filibuster.

Sen. John Kennedy

A Republican from Louisiana who said his mind is "certainly open" to the concept of skipping the 60-vote threshold.

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What they’re saying

“Some of my colleagues will call this voter suppression or Jim Crow 2.0, but those allegations are false, and I argued the bill is needed to enforce existing laws, particularly those that bar immigrants who are not citizens from voting. The current law is not strong enough.”

— Rep. Bryan Steil (texarkanagazette.com)

“Let me be clear what this is about: It's about Republicans trying to rig the next election. Republicans are pushing the Save America Act because they want fewer Americans to vote. It's that simple.”

— Rep. Jim McGovern, Top Democrat on the Rules Committee (texarkanagazette.com)

“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 (texarkanagazette.com)

What’s next

The legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republicans do not appear to have enough support to push the bill past the chamber's filibuster rules, which largely require 60 votes to advance legislation.

The takeaway

This bill highlights the ongoing partisan battles over voting rights and election integrity, with Republicans arguing it is necessary to prevent voter fraud and Democrats warning it will disenfranchise millions of Americans. The outcome could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election and beyond.