Support from Trump and GOP leadership
The proposal has been championed by former President Donald Trump, who urged House Republicans to advance it and has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that large numbers of noncitizens participate in federal elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., described the legislation as a top priority during appearances on conservative media outlets and said Senate Democrats would have to explain any effort to block it.
Opposition among Democrats and voting-rights groups
Democratic lawmakers said the bill effectively shifts control of elections toward the executive branch, pointing to Trump’s public suggestion that the federal government should oversee voting nationwide. Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., noted that the Constitution assigns most election administration responsibilities to the states and warned that the measure could suppress turnout in an already challenging midterm environment for Republicans.
Civil-rights organizations echoed those concerns, citing research indicating that 21 million U.S. citizens lack immediate access to citizenship papers and 2.6 million do not possess any form of government-issued photo identification. Analyses by the Brennan Center for Justice and the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement suggest that young adults and minority voters would shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden.
An earlier version of the SAVE Act passed the House last year with bipartisan support but died in the Senate. That bill required proof of citizenship at registration but did not add the voter-ID mandate. Two Democrats who backed the 2024 measure—Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington—opposed the new bill, saying it deviates sharply from the previous text.
Imagem: Internet
Senate outlook
The SAVE America Act now heads to the Senate, where at least 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster. Democratic leaders have promised to prevent the bill from reaching President Joe Biden’s desk, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has already announced her opposition. Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., dismissed suggestions of using the “nuclear option” to alter chamber rules, acknowledging there is insufficient support to eliminate the filibuster.
Legal context
Federal law already bars noncitizens from voting in congressional or presidential elections, and documented instances of violations are rare, according to data frequently cited by election experts. Nevertheless, Republican lawmakers argue the new requirements would provide an additional safeguard and boost public confidence in outcomes.
Voting-rights advocates counter that existing protections are adequate and that the added documentation requirement will exclude legitimate voters who are unable to obtain certified birth certificates or passports. A Brennan Center report notes that stringent ID laws in several states have already led to longer lines and higher provisional-ballot rejection rates.
Next steps
Senate committees with jurisdiction over election law are expected to review the bill later this summer. Without significant Democratic defections, however, the measure is unlikely to advance. Should the Senate block the proposal, House Republicans have indicated they will continue to pursue similar legislation and highlight the issue on the campaign trail.
Crédito da imagem: Getty Images
