Mike Lee, one of the main authors of the bill, announced on Saturday while described the growing support as a big step toward stricter federal voting standards.
“The SAVE America Act has 49 cosponsors…and I’m thrilled to announce that @SenatorCollins is now supporting the bill.”
Lee urged supporters to welcome her backing. Now, only three GOP senators have not backed the proposal.
The bill, introduced by Lee and Chip Roy, would require people to show proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and would make photo ID necessary to vote in federal elections.
“By requiring Voter ID and proof-of-citizenship, the SAVE America Act will ensure that our federal elections are decided by U.S. citizens and U.S. citizens alone,” Roy said when unveiling the bill.
Trump intensifies national voter ID push
President Trump on Friday stepped up his push for nationwide voter ID after the SAVE America Act passed the House of Representatives on February 11 in a narrowly divided vote of 218–213 sending it to Senate.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, he said the rule will be in place for the next midterm elections, even if Congress does not pass the bill.
“There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!”
He also said that checking citizenship and limiting mail-in ballots, except for military, illness, disability, or travel, are key parts of his election plans.
Trump suggested he might take executive action if Congress does not pass the bill, saying he is working on what he called an “irrefutable” legal reason to put voter ID in place nationwide.
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Senate math
The Republican-backed bill goes further than the earlier SAVE Act by adding nationwide voter ID rules and tougher checks on citizenship.
If passed, people would have to show documents proving U.S. citizenship to register to vote, such as a passport, Real ID that confirms citizenship, or a government-issued photo ID with a certified birth or naturalization record.
States would also have to check voter citizenship using federal databases, like the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE system, and remove non-citizens from voter lists. Federal agencies would need to answer state requests for verification within 24 hours.
Voters would also need to show valid photo ID before voting in federal elections. If someone cannot provide ID, they could vote provisionally but would have to confirm their identity by a set deadline.
Mail-in voters would need to send a copy of their photo ID or meet strict affidavit rules to prove who they are.
Also Read: With or Without Congress: Bullish Trump Vows Voter ID for Midterms
President Trump framed the voter ID debate within a broader narrative about national security, election integrity, and the judiciary.
In his post, he also referenced potential threats posed by Democrats’ legislative agenda, including court expansion and changes to the filibuster.
“Our Country will never be the same if they allow these demented and evil people to knowingly, and happily, destroy it,” Trump wrote, emphasizing the stakes he sees in upcoming elections and legal battles.
The President further drew connections between voter ID and his administration’s broader policy priorities, including trade and tariffs.
However, the bill still needs 60 votes in the Senate to get past a filibuster even with more Republican support.
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