Some States Forge Ahead With Strict Citizen Voting Requirements as Federal Bill Stalls

Republican-led states are passing measures that could require documentary proof of citizenship to register and vote, despite concerns about disenfranchising eligible voters.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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While a federal bill seeking strict citizenship voting requirements has stalled in the U.S. Senate, 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 in a bid to get a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

Why it matters

The push for proof-of-citizenship voting requirements is driven by concerns from President Trump and some Republicans about noncitizens voting, despite limited evidence of this occurring. However, voting rights advocates argue that such laws can disenfranchise eligible citizens who lack easy access to the required documentation, particularly marginalized groups.

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 birth certificate plus government ID. The Republican-led U.S. House approved the legislation, but it has stalled in the Senate under a filibuster threat from Democrats. Meanwhile, state-level measures 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 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.
  • Utah's bill also directs election officials to use an online service from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to check the citizenship status of existing voters.

The players

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who has raised alarms about noncitizens voting in elections, despite limited evidence of this occurring.

Americans for Citizen Voting

A group backing the Michigan ballot initiative to require documentary proof of citizenship for voting.

Fair Elections Center

A nonprofit organization that has raised concerns about proof-of-citizenship laws disenfranchising eligible voters who lack the required documentation.

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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 (kob.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 (kob.com)

What’s next

The federal SAVE America Act remains stalled in the Senate, while the state-level measures in South Dakota, Utah, Florida, and Michigan are expected to face legal challenges from voting rights advocates.

The takeaway

The push for proof-of-citizenship voting requirements highlights the ongoing partisan divide over election integrity and access, with Republicans arguing for stricter measures to prevent noncitizen voting and Democrats warning about the potential to disenfranchise eligible citizens. The outcome of these state and federal efforts could have significant implications for the 2024 elections and beyond.