US Senate Majority Leader John Thune has promised a vote on the SAVE Act this week, with the Senate preparing to take its first vote Tuesday, USA Today reports.
While voting to open debate requires only a simple majority, Senate rules require 60 votes to overcome a promised Democratic filibuster. One Republican, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, is already on record against it.
The SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot. The law would take effect immediately, affecting the 2026 midterm elections.
Supporters of the bill say passage is necessary to stop what they see as rampant voter fraud on behalf of the Democrats. Another argument is that voter ID laws actually increase voter turnout because of increased voter confidence, an argument then-Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft made during one of his visits to Worth County.
Opponents say that passage would disenfranchise hundreds of millions of people. Americans would be required to present a passport or a birth certificate when registering or updating their registration. The Center of American Progress says that 146 million Americans do not possess a valid passport. This would paradoxically disenfranchise more people in red states, where passport ownership is much lower.
Pew Research reports that 84% of women who marry change their name. This means that 69 million women could not use their birth certificate to prove citizenship, given that the SAVE Act makes no mention of being able to show a marriage certificate or change of name documentation.
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