A fight that could have major implications for future elections is brewing in Congress. Here is what you need to know about the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act and how it may impact your ability to vote.

Understanding the Election Implications of the SAVE America Act

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the SAVE America Act, sending the piece of legislation to the Senate. The controversial election bill is endorsed by President Donald Trump and most of the GOP. The Republican-controlled House passed the bill by a vote of 218-213. All Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while all but one Democrat voted against it. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was the only Democrat to cross party lines and join the GOP in supporting the bill.

The sweeping 32-page piece of legislation would require all states to obtain proof of citizenship documentation in person for residents to be able to vote. Proper proof would include an American passport or a certified birth certificate. A standard driver's license would no longer be acceptable for people to register to vote in a federal election.

The proposed legislation also requires that voters show photo identification to vote in person. Mail-in ballots would also be subject to new rules, requiring voters submit a copy of an eligible piece of documentation when needing an absentee ballot.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is defending the bill, saying that it is "just common sense." The Republican from Louisiana compared voting to other types of requirements, such as needing an ID to open bank accounts or file for government assistance.

Democrats contend that the bill is designed to widely disenfranchise American voters. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told the media that the "SAVE Act is not about identification; it is about voter suppression."

It should be noted that voting by noncitizens is already an illegal act. Democrats say that it is extremely rare for a noncitizen to try to vote, as current law requires that voters pledge their citizenship under oath.

Jeffries and his Democratic colleagues are warning that this is part of an effort by the Trump administration to nationalize elections, taking the process out of the hands of the state. The U.S. Constitution gives states the authority to conduct and certify elections.

Meanwhile, GOP leaders say that they have the support of the nation to require a form of voter identification. For instance, a Pew Research Center poll from last summer noted that 83% of American adults are in favor of “requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote.” This percentage included 71% of Democrats and 76% of Black voters.

The SAVE America Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Democrats are largely opposed to the bill as they believe it would disenfranchise a large segment of the voting population. The most common feedback is that millions of Americans do not have passports. It is also not always easy to obtain official birth certificates without jumping through hoops.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York said that the bill would be akin to Jim Crow-type laws.

What is Next for the Bill?

Now that the bill has cleared the House, it will go on to the Senate for one last vote before being sent to Trump's desk at the Oval Office. Political experts believe that the legislation will face a tougher path to approval in this chamber of Congress.

Republicans hold control of 53 seats in the Senate. However, despite this majority, a few of the GOP members have already expressed their opposition to the bill. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said last week that she was against the bill, pointing out that her colleagues were against federal election mandates in 2021, asking them what has changed since that time.

The office of Senator Susan Collins of Maine issued a statement detailing her position that the bill is problematic. The moderate Republican's office said that Collins supports voter identification efforts; however, there are big issues with the SAVE America Act that need to be addressed.

Lastly, GOP Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is also insisting that control of elections should remain at the state level. The former Senate majority leader has long said that elections need to be free of federal interference.

Should the bill pass the Senate in a majority vote, it would need to obtain at least 60 votes in order to break a filibuster launched by the Democrats. This makes it highly unlikely that the legislation will pass this chamber without undergoing major changes.

There has been no official date listed on the calendar for the Senate to vote on this piece of legislation. A lack of unanimous support within the GOP is likely to mean that the bill will continue to be kicked down the road.

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