Some States Forge Ahead on Voting Restrictions as Federal Bill Stalls

Republican-led states push proof-of-citizenship requirements despite legal challenges and concerns about voter suppression

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

While a federal bill seeking strict voting requirements sought by former President Trump has stalled in the Senate, some Republican-led states are pressing ahead with their own measures that could require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. Proof-of-citizenship legislation has been approved 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 to get a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

Why it matters

These state-level efforts to impose proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting are seen by Democrats and voting rights advocates as attempts at voter suppression, as they may prevent many eligible voters from casting ballots. Similar laws have been overturned by courts in the past as unconstitutional burdens on voting rights. The debate highlights the ongoing partisan divide over voting access and election integrity.

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 House approved the legislation last month, but it has stalled in the Senate under a filibuster threat from Democrats. Meanwhile, state-level bills passed in South Dakota and Utah would create a two-tier voting system, where people who provide citizenship documentation could vote in all elections, while those who don't could only vote in federal elections. Other state measures, like in Michigan and Florida, would involve behind-the-scenes reviews of voter rolls to flag potential non-citizens without requiring upfront proof of citizenship when registering.

  • The federal SAVE America Act was approved by the Republican-led House in February 2026.
  • The proof-of-citizenship bills in South Dakota and Utah could take effect upon the governor's signature, potentially before the November 2026 elections.
  • The Michigan ballot initiative to amend the state constitution with a proof-of-citizenship requirement is aiming for the November 2026 ballot.

The players

President Donald Trump

The former president who has long pushed for strict voting requirements, including proof of citizenship, despite a lack of evidence of widespread non-citizen voting.

Paul Jacob

Chairman of Americans for Citizen Voting, the 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 that proof-of-citizenship laws would disenfranchise many eligible citizens who lack the required documentation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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, Americans for Citizen Voting (latimes.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 (latimes.com)

What’s next

The Michigan ballot initiative to amend the state constitution with a proof-of-citizenship requirement must gather enough valid signatures to qualify for the November 2026 ballot. If passed, it would face likely legal challenges from voting rights advocates.

The takeaway

The ongoing push by some Republican-led states to impose proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting, despite legal setbacks and concerns about voter suppression, highlights the deep partisan divide over voting access and election integrity in the U.S.