House Passes SAVE Act, Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote

New voter ID law faces uncertain future in Senate amid concerns over disenfranchisement

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The GOP-led House of Representatives has passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require individuals to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and show a government-issued photo ID to cast their ballot. The legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to pass, and has raised concerns among voting rights groups that it could disenfranchise millions of Americans, particularly married women, young people, and people of color.

Why it matters

The SAVE Act is the latest effort by Republicans to tighten voting requirements, which they argue is necessary to prevent non-citizens from voting, despite data showing voter fraud is rare. Critics say the new requirements would create unnecessary barriers to voting, especially for marginalized groups that are less likely to have the specific forms of ID the bill would mandate.

The details

The SAVE Act would require voters to present proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections. It would also mandate that voters show a government-issued photo ID before casting their ballot. The bill also places new restrictions on mail-in voting, requiring voters to submit a copy of their ID when requesting and submitting their ballot.

  • The SAVE Act passed the GOP-controlled House of Representatives on February 11, 2026.
  • The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future due to the 60-vote threshold required for passage.

The players

President Donald Trump

The SAVE Act is a legislative priority for the former president, who has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune

The Republican senator from South Dakota has stated publicly that there are not enough votes among Senate Republicans to further weaken the filibuster, which could be necessary to pass the SAVE Act.

Tappan Vickery

The Vice President of Programs and Strategy at the nonpartisan voting rights organization HeadCount, who has raised concerns that the SAVE Act could create new barriers for voters, particularly married women who have changed their names.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The SAVE Act must now pass the Senate, where it faces a higher threshold of 60 votes to overcome the filibuster. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated there may not be enough Republican support to further weaken the filibuster, which could be necessary to pass the legislation.

The takeaway

The SAVE Act highlights the ongoing partisan battle over voting rights, with Republicans arguing the new requirements are necessary to secure elections, while Democrats and voting rights groups warn the bill would create unnecessary barriers to voting, particularly for marginalized communities. The fate of the legislation in the Senate remains uncertain.