House Passes SAVE America Act; Critics Warn of Voter Suppression

The House of Representatives has passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, a sweeping election reform bill that would introduce new federal requirements for voter registration and ballot casting. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain.

The bill would make three significant changes to the federal election process. First, it would require Americans to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, going beyond the current system in which registrants must attest to citizenship under penalty of perjury. Second, it would establish a nationwide photo ID requirement for in-person voting, with a narrower range of acceptable documents than many states currently allow — notably excluding student IDs, including those issued by public universities. Third, it would tighten restrictions on mail-in voting by requiring identification from those who wish to cast ballots remotely.

Repeated investigations and independent analyses have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in U.S. elections.

Opponents, including a coalition of more than 130 civil rights and advocacy organizations, contend the legislation would suppress turnout among minority, low-income, and disabled voters. They point to data indicating that roughly half of American adults do not hold a valid passport — a figure that rises to about two-thirds among Black adults — and that Black Americans are also statistically less likely to possess a current driver's license. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund called the bill "disingenuous" and "discriminatory," arguing it targets Black voters under the guise of election security.

Congressional Democrats have echoed those concerns. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer compared the legislation to Jim Crow-era voting restrictions, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries characterized it as "voter suppression" dressed up as voter ID reform.