GOP Pushes Citizenship Proof and Photo ID for Federal Elections, Sparking Voting-Access Debates
The SAVE America Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act to require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and mandate photo ID for casting ballots, including mail ballots. It would require in-person citizenship proof for mail registrations, allow a sworn affidavit for those unable to provide documents, andDirect states to verify citizenship using DHS/SSA data. Republicans call it a common-sense measure to secure elections, while Democrats warn it would disenfranchise millions lacking birth certificates or passports, trigger purges, and hinder registration methods; the Senate is unlikely to pass it, though Trump supports it. The discussion sits amid prior executive orders, lawsuits, and state citizenship audits estimating noncitizens on rolls, with broad polling showing support for voter ID in general.