US House passes GOP bill mandating voter ID, proof of citizenship nationwide

2026-02-12 - 08:05

The Republican-led US House of Representatives has approved legislation that would impose uniform voter identification requirements and citizenship verification procedures across all 50 states. The SAVE America Act passed 218-213, with united Republican support joined by a single Democrat, and now proceeds to the Senate where its prospects are widely considered dim. Common sense or suppression? House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the measure as a basic safeguard, telling reporters: "Americans need an ID to drive, to open a bank account, to buy cold medicine, to file government assistance. So why would voting be any different?" The bill mandates that individuals registering for federal elections present documentary proof of citizenship in person—such as a passport or birth certificate—and requires photo identification at polling stations. Mail-in voters would be compelled to submit copies of approved identification with their ballots. Democratic opposition and constitutional concerns House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced the legislation as a "desperate effort" at distraction, arguing it amounts to systematic voter suppression rather than election integrity. Democrats contend that noncitizen voting is already illegal under federal law, with existing statutes requiring attestation of citizenship under penalty of perjury. They also raised constitutional objections, asserting that the bill would effectively "nationalize" election administration in conflict with the Constitution's delegation of such authority to individual states. Senate hurdles and Republican defections The legislation faces formidable obstacles in the upper chamber. Despite holding 53 seats, Republicans lack the 60-vote supermajority typically required to advance contested legislation. Several Republican senators have signaled opposition, including Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, who criticized the measure as federal overreach. "When Democrats attempted to advance sweeping election reform legislation in 2021, Republicans were unanimous in opposition because it would have federalized elections," Murkowski said. "Now, I'm seeing proposals such as the SAVE Act that would effectively do just that. I do not support these efforts." Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer declared the bill "dead on arrival." Political context The push for nationwide voting restrictions aligns with President Donald Trump's persistent, evidence-free claims that the 2020 election was "rigged" against him. While Trump is term-limited and cannot seek office again, political analysts suggest the election integrity messaging could energize the Republican base in future electoral cycles. The sharp partisan divide over voting access—with Republicans demanding stricter rules and Democrats defending expanded access—shows no sign of narrowing.