Legislation requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for new voters is heading to the Senate floor, with Republicans planning an extended debate that could last a week or more as they seek to appeal to former President Donald Trump ahead of midterm elections.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, would require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote — mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate. Driver's licenses in many states would not satisfy the requirement because the legislation demands identification compliant with new REAL ID rules that also indicates citizenship status, which few state licenses do.

The bill would also require voters to present valid identification at the polls, with those voting by mail required to send a photocopy. Additionally, it would require states to share voters' information with the Department of Homeland Security to verify citizenship — giving the federal government unprecedented access to state voter data.

Federal law already requires that voters in national elections be U.S. citizens, but there is not currently a nationwide requirement that voters show identification when they vote.

What the Left Is Saying

Senate Democrats are uniformly opposed to the legislation and are expected to block its passage. They argue the bill would disenfranchise millions of American voters who don't have birth certificates or other documents readily available.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer predicted that handing over voter names to the federal government would allow DHS to 'purge tens of millions of people from the voter rolls.'

Voting rights advocates and some election officials say the legislation would crush voter registration efforts ahead of this year's elections. The bill creates new penalties for election officials who register applicants who have not presented documentary proof of citizenship, which opponents say could scare workers into turning away valid applicants.

Marc Elias, a Democratic elections attorney, said he is not 'aware of any state that currently requires what this would require.' He added that if the bill passed, 'the day after states would need to implement this,' creating significant implementation challenges.

What the Right Is Saying

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said last week that the bill would 'require Americans to demonstrate that they're eligible to vote' and 'that they are who they say they are.'

Thune has argued that requiring voter ID is reasonable, noting that 'if you have to show an ID to get a library card, it's not too much to ask voters to show ID to vote in federal elections.'

Trump has been pushing Thune to move ahead with the bill and suggested Republicans eliminate the filibuster or find another workaround. While Thune has said there aren't enough votes to eliminate the filibuster, Republicans plan an extended debate to try to appease Trump and make Democrats defend their position.

Trump has claimed that passage of the bill would 'guarantee the midterms' for his Republican Party in November, even though Republicans won both chambers of Congress and the White House without the law in 2024.

What the Numbers Show

Currently, 36 states have voter identification laws in place, some stricter than others, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The SAVE America Act would require voters in all states to present valid identification.

The legislation would grant private individuals the ability to sue election officials in some circumstances. Primary elections are scheduled to begin next month, and critics say it would be difficult and costly for state election officials to implement new requirements on that timeline.

The Bottom Line

The SAVE America Act faces long odds of passage in the Senate, where Democrats are expected to block it. Republicans plan an extended floor debate rather than attempting to eliminate the filibuster, which Thune has said lacks sufficient support.

If enacted, the new rules for voter registration and identification would take effect immediately. Critics warn the requirements could confuse voters during an election year and create significant burdens for state election offices that would need to implement new systems quickly. Trump has indicated he wants additional provisions added, including a ban on mail-in ballots and measures targeting transgender rights.