President Trump posted on Truth Social that he would issue an executive order mandating voter identification requirements for the 2026 midterm elections if Congress does not pass legislation. He claimed to have found "irrefutable" legal arguments to justify federal voter ID requirements and accused Democrats of opposing such measures to enable election fraud.
The SAVE America Act passed the House 218-213 on Wednesday, with only one Democrat (Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas) voting in favor. The bill requires documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID at polling places. It also mandates states maintain voter rolls and allows information sharing between state election officials and federal agencies including DHS.
In the Senate, the bill faces significant obstacles. Republicans hold 53 seats but need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Sen. Susan Collins announced support for the bill but opposes eliminating the filibuster. Sen. Lisa Murkowski opposes the legislation, citing concerns about imposing new federal requirements close to elections. Sen. Mike Lee is pushing for a "talking filibuster" to force floor debate.
In March 2025, a federal judge blocked portions of a previous Trump executive order on election procedures, ruling that the Constitution does not permit the president to unilaterally change federal election procedures. The Constitution assigns election administration primarily to states. It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, and 36 states currently have some form of voter ID law.
