The House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act on Tuesday, February 12, 2026, a bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. The vote represents a renewed push by Republicans to tighten voting access, despite warnings from civil rights groups that the measure could disenfranchise millions of Americans.
The bill, a more restrictive version of last year’s failed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, mandates that voters provide either a passport or birth certificate to register. President Trump has repeatedly called for such measures, framing them as necessary to secure elections, despite the established rarity of non-citizen voting. He has also advocated for “nationalizing” elections, a concept he described as states acting as “an agent for the federal government” in the electoral process.
Critics argue the legislation poses significant barriers to voting, particularly for vulnerable populations. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that 21 million U.S. Citizens do not have readily available proof of citizenship. This includes approximately 9% of Americans who have moved within their state in the last year and may not have updated their driver’s licenses, as well as an estimated 69 million women whose current identification may not match their birth certificates due to marriage or name changes. A 2023 Brennan Center survey found that nine percent of all American citizens—21.3 million people—lack easy access to the required documentation.
The legislation is not without opposition. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has declared the bill “dead on arrival” in the Senate, promising a Democratic filibuster. Though, the bill’s passage in the House signals a mobilized effort to restrict voting access, fueled in part by endorsements from figures like Elon Musk, who has publicly stated, “It must be done or democracy is dead.”
Beyond the SAVE America Act, a broader, more comprehensive bill known as the Produce Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act is also under consideration. The MEGA Act would not only require proof of citizenship but also proof of residency, adding another layer of complexity for voters. It would also end universal mail voting in several states, including California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington State and the District of Columbia, and eliminate mail ballot grace periods.
Nicole Hansen, policy counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, criticized the legislation as an unnecessary obstacle to exercising a fundamental right. “It’s simply not worth the extra obstacle,” she said.
Even as the SAVE America Act and MEGA Act face an uphill battle in the Senate, their passage in the House underscores the ongoing debate over voting rights and election security. The bills are currently awaiting consideration in the Senate, with no immediate date set for a vote.
