House GOP Pushes Strict Proof-of-Citizenship Requirement for Voters

The bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate despite Republican support in the House.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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House Republicans have rushed to approve legislation that would impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration and voting, a long-standing Trump administration priority. The bill, called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, would require Americans to prove their citizenship through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate when registering to vote, and to provide valid photo ID before casting ballots. The legislation is aimed at preventing 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 concerns, particularly because former President Trump has suggested he wants to nationalize U.S. elections, which are designed to be run by individual states. Experts say voter fraud is extremely rare, and the new requirements could make it difficult for state election officials to implement the changes in time for upcoming primaries and the general election.

The details

The SAVE America Act was approved in the House on a mostly party-line vote of 218-213. It would require voters to prove their citizenship when registering, mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate. It would also mandate valid photo ID before casting ballots, which some states already require. Republicans say the legislation is needed to prevent voter fraud, but Democrats argue it will disenfranchise millions by making it harder to vote. Federal law already requires voters in national elections to be U.S. citizens, but there is no requirement to provide documentary proof.

  • The House approved the legislation on February 12, 2026.
  • Primary elections are getting underway next month.

The players

Rep. Bryan Steil

A Republican representative from Wisconsin who presented the SAVE America Act package at a committee hearing.

Rep. Jim McGovern

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

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

A Republican senator from Alaska who said imposing new federal requirements now would "negatively impact election integrity" by forcing election officials to scramble to adhere to new policies.

Sen. Mike Lee

A Republican senator from Utah who is pushing for a process that would skip the Senate's 60-vote filibuster threshold to allow the bill to be debated.

Sen. John Kennedy

A Republican senator from Louisiana who said his mind is "certainly open" to Lee's proposal to bypass the filibuster.

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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. The current law is not strong enough.”

— Rep. Bryan Steil

“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

“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

What’s next

The bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where there does not appear to be enough support to push it past the chamber's filibuster rules. Some Republicans, led by Sen. Mike Lee, are pushing for a process that would skip the 60-vote threshold, but it's unclear if there is enough support for that approach.

The takeaway

The GOP's push for stricter voter ID and citizenship requirements ahead of the midterm elections has raised concerns about potential voter suppression and the politicization of election rules. While the bill has passed the House, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain, underscoring the ongoing partisan divide over voting rights and election integrity.