Trump Pushes GOP on Voting Bill, Demanding End to Most Mail Balloting

President says he won't sign any other legislation until Congress passes strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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President Donald Trump said he won't sign any other legislation into law until Congress passes a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill that he says must also end Americans' ability to vote by mail, a demand that comes months before the midterm elections. Trump told House Republicans the bill is his top priority and warned that Republicans won't win elections unless voting laws are toughened up to prevent fraud, despite a lack of evidence that noncitizens try to vote.

Why it matters

Trump's push to impose sweeping election changes has raised alarms from voting rights groups, as the president seeks to seize more control over elections, which are traditionally run by the states. The president's demands come as his Republican Party faces headwinds in the upcoming midterm elections, with its congressional majorities at risk.

The details

Trump wants to bolster the SAVE America Act, which the House has already approved, and he pressed the Senate to push past its filibuster rules to send it to his desk. The bill would require voters to present proof of citizenship with a passport or birth certificate when they register to vote, and show a photo ID when casting ballots. Trump also wants to ban mail-in ballots, with exceptions for disabled, military, and other voters. The president believes mail-in ballots are fraudulent, despite a lack of evidence. He also wants to add provisions around transgender rights issues and a foreign surveillance bill.

  • Trump made the demands during the House Republicans' annual retreat at his golf club in Florida on March 9, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who is pushing the GOP to pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill that would also end most mail balloting.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Democratic leader who said Trump's demands would gridlock the chamber, calling the president a "thug" and a "bully".

Mike Johnson

The House Speaker who is close with Trump and appeared alongside the president on stage with other GOP leaders applauding the voting bill.

John Thune

The Senate Majority Leader who has said using the "talking filibuster" to pass the voting bill, as Trump and others propose, isn't as easy as it seems.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not going to sign anything until this is approved. It'll guarantee the midterms. If you don't get it, big trouble.”

— Donald Trump, President (ksgf.com)

“This is what he does — he's a thug, he's a bully.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic Leader (ksgf.com)

“We can't find a piece of legislation in history that's been passed that way.”

— John Thune, Senate Majority Leader (ksgf.com)

What’s next

Republican senators plan to discuss how to move forward on the voting bill at their private meetings this week, but so far there is no consensus, with some wanting to use a talking filibuster to pass it and others strongly against.

The takeaway

Trump's push to impose sweeping changes to voting laws, including an end to most mail balloting, highlights the ongoing partisan battle over election integrity and access, with the president seeking to tighten restrictions despite a lack of evidence of widespread fraud, while Democrats warn the measures could disenfranchise millions of voters.