Congress and Florida Lawmakers Push Voter Suppression Bills

Proposed legislation aims to restrict voting rights under the guise of preventing noncitizen voting

Feb. 21, 2026 at 11:00am

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The United States Senate is 10 votes away from passing the SAVE America Act, a voter suppression bill that would usher in sweeping restrictions on who can vote. Meanwhile, the Republican supermajority in the Florida legislature is pushing similar bills, HB 991 and SB 1334, that could keep unknown numbers of women, students, and the elderly from voting. These bills are presented as securing election integrity, but they clearly target specific groups of voters, raising concerns about voter suppression.

Why it matters

Voter suppression tactics, such as restrictive voter ID laws, removal of ballot drop boxes, and new vote-by-mail hurdles, undermine the fundamental right to vote and threaten to disenfranchise millions of Americans, particularly women, people of color, students, the elderly, and disabled voters. This is a direct assault on the democratic process and the principles of free and fair elections.

The details

The SAVE America Act in the U.S. Senate and the proposed bills in the Florida legislature, HB 991 and SB 1334, would impose a range of new voting restrictions, including requiring specific forms of ID, limiting access to mail-in ballots, and potentially making hand-filled paper ballots the preferred voting method. These measures are ostensibly aimed at preventing noncitizen voting, but experts argue they are more likely to suppress the votes of eligible citizens, especially marginalized groups.

  • The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the SAVE America Act this week.
  • The Florida legislature is currently considering HB 991 and SB 1334.

The players

Kristin Noem

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who has stated that her department will have armed, masked agents on hand to ensure "the right people" are voting on Election Day.

Byron Donalds

U.S. Representative and candidate for Florida governor, who incorrectly claimed that all voters need a REAL ID driver's license denoting citizenship, when in fact most states' REAL ID cards do not include citizenship information.

Donald Trump

Former U.S. President, who has expressed a desire to "take over the voting" and has called for the Republican Party to "nationalize the voting."

Pam Bondi

Current Attorney General of Florida, who previously represented Michael Flynn, who urged Trump to declare martial law in 2020.

Pete Hegseth

Fox News host who has supported a pastor calling for denying women the right to vote.

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What they’re saying

“When it gets to Election Day, I want to ensure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders.”

— Kristin Noem, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

“We should take over the voting, the voting in at least many — 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the SAVE America Act this week, which could determine the fate of millions of Americans' right to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. Meanwhile, the Florida legislature continues to consider HB 991 and SB 1334, which could also have significant impacts on voter access in the state.

The takeaway

The proposed voter suppression bills in Congress and the Florida legislature are a direct attack on the fundamental right to vote and the principles of free and fair elections. These measures, which claim to address the myth of widespread noncitizen voting, are more likely to disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly women, people of color, students, the elderly, and the disabled. Protecting the right to vote should be a bipartisan priority, not a partisan battleground.