SouthernWorldwide.com – The House of Representatives has passed the SAVE America Act, a bill that introduces stringent new requirements for voter registration and ballot casting. Democrats have voiced concerns that these measures could disenfranchise a significant number of eligible voters.
The bill was approved with a vote of 218 to 213. Notably, one Democrat joined all Republicans in supporting the legislation. Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas was the sole Democrat to vote in favor of the SAVE America Act.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain.
The SAVE America Act mandates that individuals provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote in federal elections. Additionally, it requires photo identification for the act of voting itself, a long-standing Republican priority. This legislation represents the latest effort by House Republicans to enact such a bill through both chambers of Congress, a goal they have pursued for several years.
Republicans have championed the bill as a sensible approach to prevent non-citizens from participating in elections, despite instances of non-citizen voting being extremely rare.
“This is common-sense legislation designed simply to ensure that American citizens decide American elections. It is truly that straightforward,” stated House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, on Tuesday.
Johnson highlighted polling data indicating strong public support for requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID for voting. An October 2024 Gallup poll revealed that 83% of Americans favor requiring first-time voter registrants to present proof of citizenship. Similarly, a Pew Research Center poll released last August found that 83% of Americans support requiring voters to present government-issued photo identification.
Conversely, Democrats and some experts argue that the bill would adversely affect millions of Americans who lack easy access to documents proving their citizenship.
“If you are among the 50% of Americans who do not possess a passport, or if you are one of the tens of millions of Americans who cannot quickly obtain your birth certificate, the SAVE Act could effectively strip you of your right to vote,” stated Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, on the Senate floor on Monday. He characterized the legislation as “extreme.”
President Trump has urged Republicans to support the legislation, asserting that the country would cease to exist if it is not enacted. Mr. Trump has emphasized the critical importance of all voters presenting identification and proof of citizenship. He has also advocated for an end to mail-in ballots, with limited exceptions.
House Republicans celebrated the bill’s passage during a press conference following the vote and criticized their Democratic colleagues for their opposition.
“This has devolved into a bitter partisan conflict, and it is bewildering to us,” Johnson remarked. “We hope that some Democrats in the Senate will come to their senses and do what is right for the people.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the legislation on Monday, accusing Republicans of adopting “voter suppression as an electoral strategy.”
“That is precisely what the so-called SAVE Act is all about,” he stated. “And this version is even more problematic than the previous one.”
The New York Democrat expressed confidence that the bill “is not going to pass,” adding that if it “barely makes it through the House, it will be dead on arrival in the Senate.”
Previous iterations of this bill have passed the House twice before, receiving support from a small number of Democrats. However, the Senate’s requirement of a 60-vote threshold to advance most legislation makes its passage in the upper chamber unlikely. GOP leaders have yet to formally consider the measure.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, has faced considerable pressure in recent weeks to advance the bill. Proponents of the legislation have urged him to employ a procedural tactic known as a “talking filibuster” to circumvent the 60-vote requirement for ending debate. However, this maneuver would consume significant floor time and allow Democrats to introduce an unlimited number of amendments.
Senate Republicans discussed potential strategies for moving forward with the legislation during their conference lunch on Tuesday, according to multiple senators. Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah who has been a leading advocate for the talking filibuster in the Senate, reported that a presentation on the procedure was well-received.
Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, described the discussion as “good” but deemed the talking filibuster “very unworkable.”
“Nevertheless, it is something that some individuals are interested in,” Rounds commented. “We will continue to conduct further research on it. The reality is, I would love to see this particular SAVE Act brought to the floor and voted on, and make our Democrat colleagues vote on the issue.”
To meet the 60-vote threshold, Senate Republicans would require the support of at least seven Democrats. Furthermore, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a Republican, has already voiced her opposition, citing concerns about changes to election procedures occurring too close to the midterm elections.
“Election Day is rapidly approaching. Implementing new federal requirements now, when states are deeply involved in their preparations, would negatively impact election integrity by forcing election officials to scramble to comply with new policies, likely without the necessary resources,” Murkowski stated on X on Tuesday. “Ensuring public trust in our elections is fundamental to our democracy, but federal overreach is not the way to achieve this.”
Thune indicated on Tuesday that Senate Republicans are engaged in a “very robust conversation” regarding the legislative path forward.
“How we reach that vote remains to be seen,” Thune added.
Johnson stated that he met with Thune on Tuesday to discuss the legislation and that the Senate leader is “committed” to bringing it to a vote.
Read more: Delta Eliminates Food and Drink Service on Shorter Flights
“I do not dictate how he runs the Senate, but I trust that he is committed to it, and they are working to figure that out, to determine the appropriate course of action,” Johnson told reporters on Wednesday evening.
