The House of Representatives passed a revamped version of the SAVE America Act on Wednesday night, advancing legislation that would require both photo identification and proof of U.S. citizenship in order to vote. The measure cleared the chamber largely along party lines, with Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas being the only Democrat to vote in favor.
Introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and backed strongly by President Donald Trump, the bill marks a renewed push to safeguard election integrity. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uphill climb due to the 60-vote filibuster threshold. That would require at least seven Democrats to join all Senate Republicans—a scenario that remains unlikely.
Under the revised language of the SAVE Act, voters would be required to show both a valid photo ID and a form of documentation proving U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. Supporters argue this is a common-sense measure already required for countless everyday tasks, from flying to opening a bank account.
Critics on the left have responded with fierce opposition. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer dubbed the bill “Jim Crow 2.0,” claiming it would suppress millions of eligible voters who lack immediate access to documents. He pointed to Americans without passports or quick access to birth certificates as potential casualties of the law.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who introduced the bill in the Senate, pushed back hard. He called the criticism dishonest and said the act merely implements basic security measures that already enjoy majority support among voters nationwide. “Millions of Americans prove their citizenship every day. It’s not a burden—it’s a safeguard,” Lee said.
Polling consistently shows broad support for voter ID laws, including from independents and many Democrats. But federal legislation on the matter has often stalled, and even some Senate Republicans have voiced concerns. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) came out against the bill this week, citing concerns over federal overreach into election administration.
President Trump, who has long called for tougher voting laws, urged Senate Republicans to consider all options to move the legislation forward. While GOP leadership continues to oppose eliminating the filibuster outright, Sen. Lee floated the idea of reviving the “talking filibuster” as a potential workaround.
“There’s no easy path in the Senate,” Lee admitted, “but if we’re serious about securing elections, this is the route we’ll need to take.”
With the 2026 midterm elections looming, the SAVE America Act is expected to become a major flashpoint in the national debate over election integrity.
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