Some States Forge Ahead With Voting Restrictions as Federal Bill Stalls

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

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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While a federal bill proposed by former President Trump to impose strict citizenship voting requirements remains stalled in the Senate, some Republican-led states are pressing ahead with their own measures that could require documentary proof of citizenship to register or remain on 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 have 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 election integrity and access.

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, naturalization certificate, or a combination of a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. The Republican-led House approved the legislation, but it has stalled in the Senate under a filibuster threat from Democrats. Meanwhile, the state-level measures in South Dakota, Utah, Florida, and Michigan would create a two-tier voting system where those who don't provide citizenship documentation could only vote in federal elections.

  • The bills in South Dakota and Utah would take effect upon a governor's signature, meaning they could be in place for newly registered voters ahead of the November elections.
  • The Michigan initiative and Florida legislation have not yet been enacted into law.

The players

President Trump

The former president has long complained about noncitizens voting in U.S. elections, although evidence of this is rare.

Paul Jacob

Chairman of Americans for Citizen Voting, which is backing the Michigan ballot initiative to require proof of citizenship.

Michelle Kanter Cohen

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

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

What’s next

The federal SAVE America Act remains stalled in the Senate, while the state-level proof-of-citizenship measures in South Dakota, Utah, Florida, and Michigan are still working their way through the legislative process.

The takeaway

The push for proof-of-citizenship voting requirements at both the federal and state levels highlights the ongoing partisan battle over election integrity and access. While proponents argue it's necessary to ensure confidence in the system, critics contend these measures amount to voter suppression that could disenfranchise many eligible citizens.