Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that Republicans plan to revise the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act to mandate photo identification for federal elections. The change aims to address gaps in current election laws by requiring ID at polling places. The original bill, which passed the House in April 2025, focused on proof of citizenship during registration.
On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) revealed that GOP leaders intend to modify the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, originally introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT). This legislation would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and already includes measures to require documentary proof of citizenship—such as passports, birth certificates, or military records—for voter registration. It also mandates states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls and imposes criminal penalties on officials who register ineligible individuals.
The proposed overhaul targets a perceived shortfall: the absence of a photo ID requirement when casting ballots. Thune explained to reporters, “It includes, right now, a requirement that you be a citizen to register to vote but it doesn’t include a requirement that to vote you be a resident. So, in other words, if you’re going to have what we call voter ID, photo ID, when somebody goes into the ballot box to vote, that’s not currently covered in the bill. So that’s being fixed and addressed.” He added that he supports the update and believes most Senate colleagues do as well.
Nationwide, voter ID rules differ: 36 states demand some form of identification, while 14 depend on signature matching or verbal affirmation. Advocates point to strong public backing, with surveys showing 80% of Americans in favor, including 97% of Republicans, 84% of independents, 53% of Democrats, and 77% of minority voters. A National Bureau of Economic Research study supports their view, finding no significant impact on voter turnout from such laws.
Opponents contend that rigid ID rules and curbs on mail-in registration could hinder those lacking easy access to documents, potentially affecting turnout among vulnerable groups. The revised bill now heads to the Senate, where partisan divides may complicate passage despite Thune's optimism.
