As Citizen Voting Bill Stalls in US Senate, Some States Forge Ahead

Republican-led states push their own measures that could require documentary proof of citizenship to register and vote

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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While the U.S. Senate remains deadlocked over President Donald Trump's call for strict citizenship voting requirements, Republicans in some states are pressing ahead with their own measures that could require documentary proof of citizenship to join or remain on the voter rolls. Proof-of-citizenship legislation has won final approval in South Dakota and Utah, passed one chamber in Florida, and received a committee hearing in Missouri. In Michigan, supporters of voter citizenship documentation submitted 750,000 petition signatures this week in a bid to get a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

Why it matters

The push for stricter voter ID laws and citizenship verification requirements has been a key priority for many Republicans, who argue it is necessary to prevent noncitizen voting, despite limited evidence of such fraud occurring. However, voting rights advocates warn that these measures could disenfranchise thousands of eligible citizens who lack easy access to the required documentation.

The details

The federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE America Act, would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, which could be satisfied with a U.S. passport, citizen naturalization certificate, or a combination of a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. The Republican-led U.S. House approved the legislation last month, but it has stalled in the Senate under a filibuster threat from Democrats. Meanwhile, state-level measures passed or proposed in South Dakota, Utah, Florida, and Michigan would create a two-tier voting system where those who don't provide proof of citizenship could only vote in federal elections.

  • The federal SAVE America Act was approved by the Republican-led U.S. House in February 2026.
  • Proof-of-citizenship legislation has won final approval this week in South Dakota and Utah.
  • The Michigan initiative to amend the state constitution submitted 750,000 petition signatures this week.

The players

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who has called for strict citizenship voting requirements.

Americans for Citizen Voting

A group backing the Michigan ballot initiative to require proof of citizenship to vote.

Michelle Kanter Cohen

Policy director and senior counsel at the nonprofit Fair Elections Center, who argues proof-of-citizenship laws would disenfranchise many eligible citizens.

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What they’re saying

“We want a system we can have confidence in. The way you avoid big problems in elections is to fix the small problems when they rise up and present themselves.”

— Paul Jacob, Chairman of Americans for Citizen Voting (ksgf.com)

“It requires documentation that a lot of eligible citizens don't have, or don't have access to.”

— Michelle Kanter Cohen, Policy director and senior counsel, Fair Elections Center (ksgf.com)

What’s next

The federal SAVE America Act remains stalled in the U.S. Senate, while state-level proof-of-citizenship measures continue to advance in several Republican-led states. Legal challenges are likely to follow if these state laws are enacted.

The takeaway

The ongoing debate over voter ID and citizenship verification requirements highlights the partisan divide over election integrity and access. While Republicans argue these measures are needed to prevent noncitizen voting, voting rights advocates warn they could disenfranchise many eligible citizens who lack the required documentation.