Donald Trump has introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, a law formally requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship. Citizenship and ID were already required to vote, and reports of noncitizens voting are rare and usually handled by local authorities. There is no tangible evidence that illegal voting is prevalent enough to change election outcomes. 

The SAVE Act would require citizens to have a Passport or Birth Certificate with them to register to vote, which is something that over 21 million Americans do not have access to.  

On Truth Social, a conservative-run social media app, Trump threatened not to sign any other bills until the SAVE Act is passed, stating, “It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed.” 

Trump additionally stated that the SAVE Act would prevent mail-in ballots, the only exceptions being for “ILLNESS, DISABILITY, MILITARY, OR TRAVEL!” Nothing in the Bill officiates this claim, but Trump has stood by it as a benefit of passing the act. He also stated on Truth Social that the SAVE Act would prevent “MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS” and “TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN!” although nothing in the SAVE Act mentions any impact on transgender citizens, and Trump has not given a statement on how these regulations would combine with a bill related to voting. He also referred to those who vote against the SAVE America Act as “sick, demented, [and] deranged people.” 

The SAVE Act narrowly passed in the House of Representatives, and the Senate voted to open debate on the SAVE America Act. Many expect the debate to be lengthy, with Democrats showing no sign of backing down. Many Democrats argue that it is not a voter ID bill, but a “voter suppression bill.” 

Many women raise concerns with the SAVE Act, arguing that it is a direct attack on women’s right to vote, as many women do not have access to identification that matches their name after getting married. This issue also applies to transgender voters or those who have changed their name for any other reason. Indigenous citizens have also raised concerns that many tribal IDs lack expiration dates, rendering them invalid under this bill.