SAVE America Act

the State shall not accept and process an application to register to vote in an election for Federal office unless the applicant presents documentary proof of United States citizenship with the application.

(2) A valid United States passport.

(i) additional documentation as necessary to establish that the name on the documentation is a previous name of the applicant; or (ii) an affidavit signed by the applicant attesting that the name on the documentation is a previous name of the applicant.

each State shall establish a process under which an applicant who cannot provide documentary proof of United States citizenship under paragraph (1) may, if the applicant signs an attestation under penalty of perjury that the applicant is a citizen of the United States and eligible to vote in elections for Federal office, submit such other evidence to the appropriate State or local official demonstrating that the applicant is a citizen of the United States

The requirements in this section shall not apply with respect to an applicant who is an absent uniformed services voter

shall apply with respect to applications for voter registration which are submitted on or after such date.

the appropriate State or local election official may not provide a ballot for an election for Federal office to an individual who desires to vote in person unless the individual presents to the official a valid physical photo identification.

If an individual does not present the identification required under subparagraph (A), the individual shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot

not later than 3 days after casting the provisional ballot, the individual presents to the official— (I) the identification required under subparagraph (A); or (II) an affidavit developed and made available to the individual by the State attesting that the individual does not possess the identification required under subparagraph (A) because the individual has a religious objection to being photographed.

(i) a copy of a valid photo identification; or (ii) the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security number and an affidavit developed and made available to the individual by the State attesting that the individual is unable to obtain a copy of a valid photo identification after making reasonable efforts to obtain such a copy.

Subparagraph (A) does not apply with respect to a ballot provided by— (i) an absent uniformed services voter, as defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1)); or (ii) an individual provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii)).

Each State shall submit the complete, official list of individuals registered as eligible voters for Federal office in the State to the Department of Homeland Security for comparison through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system for the purposes of identifying individuals who are not citizens of the United States and taking the necessary steps to remove such individuals who are not citizens from the official list, after notice is given to such individuals and such individuals are given the opportunity to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship, but a State with a memorandum of agreement for such purposes with the Department of Homeland Security on the date of the enactment of this subsection may comply with this subparagraph by carrying out such purposes under the memorandum.

That the bill from the Senate (S. 1383) entitled An Act to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes., do pass with the following

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE America Act.

2. Ensuring only citizens are registered to vote in elections for Federal office

3. Requiring voters to provide photo identification

(1) A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States. (2) A valid United States passport. (3) The applicant's official United States military identification card, together with a United States military record of service showing that the applicant's place of birth was in the United States. (4) A valid government-issued photo identification card issued by a Federal, State or Tribal government showing that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States.

(5) A valid government-issued photo identification card issued by a Federal, State or Tribal government other than an identification described in paragraphs (1) through (4), but only if presented together with one or more of the following:

(A) A certified birth certificate issued by a State, a unit of local government in a State, or a Tribal government which— (i) was issued by the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government in which the applicant was born; (ii) was filed with the office responsible for keeping vital records in the State; (iii) includes the full name, date of birth, and place of birth of the applicant; (iv) lists the full names of one or both of the parents of the applicant; (v) has the signature of an individual who is authorized to sign birth certificates on behalf of the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government in which the applicant was born; (vi) includes the date that the certificate was filed with the office responsible for keeping vital records in the State; and (vii) has the seal of the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government that issued the birth certificate.

(B) An extract from a United States hospital Record of Birth created at the time of the applicant's birth which indicates that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States. (C) A final adoption decree showing the applicant’s name and that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States. (D) A Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a citizen of the United States or a certification of the applicant’s Report of Birth of a United States citizen issued by the Secretary of State. (E) A Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security or any other document or method of proof of United States citizenship issued by the Federal government pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act. (F) An American Indian Card issued by the Department of Homeland Security with the classification ‘KIC’.

(c) Registration with application for motor vehicle driver’s license Section 5 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504) is amended—

(iii) verify that the applicant is a citizen of the United States;

(iv) Receipt of documentary proof of United States citizenship of each applicant to register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State.

(B) ask the applicant the question, Are you a citizen of the United States? and if the applicant answers in the affirmative require documentary proof of United States citizenship prior to providing the form under subparagraph (C);

An applicant who submits the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2) or a form described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) shall not be registered to vote in an election for Federal office unless— (A) the applicant presents documentary proof of United States citizenship in person to the office of the appropriate election official not later than the deadline provided by State law for the receipt of a completed voter registration application for the election; or (B) in the case of a State which permits an individual to register to vote in an election for Federal office at a polling place on the day of the election and on any day when voting, including early voting, is permitted for the election, the applicant presents documentary proof of United States citizenship to the appropriate election official at the polling place not later than the date of the election.

The chief State election official of a State shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that residents of the State are aware of the requirement to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship to register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State.

Upon receiving an otherwise completed mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2) or a form described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a), the appropriate election official shall transmit a notice to the applicant of the requirement to present documentary proof of United States citizenship under this subsection, and shall include in the notice instructions to enable the applicant to meet the requirement.

Each State shall, in consultation with the Election Assistance Commission, ensure that reasonable accommodations are made to allow an individual with a disability who submits the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2) or a form described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) to present documentary proof of United States citizenship to the appropriate election official.

a State shall accept and process an application to register to vote in an election for Federal office if the applicant— (A) presents with the application documentation that would constitute documentary proof of United States citizenship, except that the name on the documentation is not the name of the applicant; and (B) provides, through a process established by the State (which shall be subject to any relevant guidance adopted by the Election Assistance Commission)— (i) additional documentation as necessary to establish that the name on the documentation is a previous name of the applicant; or (ii) an affidavit signed by the applicant attesting that the name on the documentation is a previous name of the applicant.

each State shall establish a process under which an applicant who cannot provide documentary proof of United States citizenship under paragraph (1) may, if the applicant signs an attestation under penalty of perjury that the applicant is a citizen of the United States and eligible to vote in elections for Federal office, submit such other evidence to the appropriate State or local official demonstrating that the applicant is a citizen of the United States and such official shall make a determination as to whether the applicant has sufficiently established United States citizenship

such determination shall be accompanied by an affidavit developed under clause (iii) signed by the official swearing or affirming the applicant sufficiently established United States citizenship for purposes of registering to vote.

The Election Assistance Commission shall develop a uniform affidavit for use by State and local officials under clause (ii), which shall— (I) include an explanation of the minimum standards required for a State or local official to register an applicant who cannot provide documentary proof of United States citizenship to vote in elections for Federal office in the State; and (II) require the official to explain the basis for registering such applicant to vote in such elections.

Subject to any relevant guidance adopted by the Election Assistance Commission, each State shall establish a process under which an applicant can provide such additional documentation to the appropriate election official of the State as may be necessary to establish that the applicant is a citizen of the United States in the event of a discrepancy with respect to the applicant’s documentary proof of United States citizenship.

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection: (A) Each State shall take affirmative steps, on an ongoing basis, to ensure that only United States citizens are registered to vote under the provisions of this Act, and such affirmative steps shall include the establishment of a program described in subparagraphs (B) and (C).

Each State shall submit the complete, official list of individuals registered as eligible voters for Federal office in the State to the Department of Homeland Security for comparison through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system for the purposes of identifying individuals who are not citizens of the United States and taking the necessary steps to remove such individuals who are not citizens from the official list, after notice is given to such individuals and such individuals are given the opportunity to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship, but a State with a memorandum of agreement for such purposes with the Department of Homeland Security on the date of the enactment of this subsection may comply with this subparagraph by carrying out such purposes under the memorandum.

Each State may utilize such other sources of data available to the State for the purposes of identifying individuals who are not citizens of the United States and removing such individuals from the official list of eligible voters for Federal office in the State

except that any such information provided by the Commissioner may not be the sole grounds for the removal of an individual from the official list of eligible voters for elections for Federal office in a State.

any head of a Federal department or agency possessing information relevant to determining the eligibility of an individual to vote in elections for Federal office shall, not later than 24 hours after receipt of such request, provide the official with such information as may be necessary

which shall include providing the official with such batched information as may be requested by the official.

The heads of Federal departments and agencies shall share information with each other with respect to an individual who is the subject of a request received under paragraph (A) in order to enable them to respond to the request.

The head of a Federal department or agency may not charge a fee for responding to a State’s request under paragraph (A).

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct an investigation to determine whether to initiate removal proceedings under section 239 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229) if it is determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) that an alien (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)) is unlawfully registered to vote in elections for Federal office.

A State shall remove an individual who is not a citizen of the United States from the official list of eligible voters for elections for Federal office held in the State at any time upon receipt of documentation or verified information that a registrant is not a United States citizen.

(D) based on documentary proof or verified information that the registrant is not a United States citizen; or (E) the registration otherwise fails to comply with applicable State law;

Section 8(a)(4) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(4)) is amended— (A) by striking or at the end of subparagraph (A); (B) by adding or at the end of subparagraph (B); and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) documentary proof or verified information that the registrant is not a United States citizen;

Section 8(c)(2)(B)(i) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20507(c)(2)(B)(i)) is amended by striking (4)(A) and inserting (4)(A) or (C).

by striking (including citizenship) and inserting (including an explanation of what is required to present documentary proof of United States citizenship)

shall include a section, for use only by a State or local election official, to record the type of document the applicant presented as documentary proof of United States citizenship, including the date of issuance, the date of expiration (if any), the office which issued the document, and any unique identification number associated with the document.

other than as evidence in a criminal proceeding or immigration proceeding brought against an applicant who knowingly attempts to register to vote and knowingly makes a false declaration under penalty of perjury that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements to register to vote in an election for Federal office

other than as evidence in a criminal proceeding or immigration proceeding brought against an applicant who attempts to register to vote and makes a false declaration under penalty of perjury that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements to register to vote in an election for Federal office

by striking a violation of this Act and inserting a violation of this Act, including the act of an election official who registers an applicant to vote in an election for Federal office who fails to present documentary proof of United States citizenship,

(j) Criminal penalties Section 12(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20511(2)) is amended—

(B) in the case of an officer or employee of the executive branch, providing material assistance to a noncitizen in attempting to register to vote or vote in an election for Federal office; (C) registering an applicant to vote in an election for Federal office who fails to present documentary proof of United States citizenship; or

In the case of a State or jurisdiction that does not require voter registration as a requirement to vote in an election for Federal office on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the State or jurisdiction shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this Act if the State or jurisdiction establishes a system for confirming the citizenship of individuals voting in an election for Federal office prior to the first day for voting with respect to such election and provides such confirmation of citizenship status for each eligible voter to election officials at the polling places during the voting period.

Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Election Assistance Commission shall adopt and transmit to the chief State election official of each State guidance

Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44 (commonly referred to as the Paperwork Reduction Act) shall not apply with respect to the development or modification of voter registration materials under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.), as amended by this section, including the development or modification of any voter registration application forms.

Upon receiving information that an individual has become a naturalized citizen of the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly provide notice of such information to the appropriate chief election official of the State in which such individual is domiciled.

Nothing in this section or in any amendment made by this section may be construed to supercede, restrict, or otherwise affect the ability of an individual to cast a provisional ballot in an election for Federal office or to have the ballot counted in the election if the individual is verified as a citizen of the United States pursuant to section 8(j) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993

Nothing in this section or in any amendment made by this section may be construed to affect the exemption of a State from any requirement of any Federal law other than the National Voter Registration Act of 1993

The requirements in this section shall not apply with respect to an applicant who is an absent uniformed services voter, as defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1)).

This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this section, and shall apply with respect to applications for voter registration which are submitted on or after such date.

the appropriate State or local election official may not provide a ballot for an election for Federal office to an individual who desires to vote in person unless the individual presents to the official a valid physical photo identification.

(1) A valid State-issued motor vehicle driver’s license that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date. (2) A valid State-issued identification card that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date issued by a State motor vehicle authority. (3) A valid United States passport for the individual. (4) A valid military identification for the individual. (5) A valid identification document issued by a Tribal government that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date.

If an individual does not present the identification required under subparagraph (A), the individual shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot with respect to the election under section 302(a), except that the appropriate State or local election official may not make a determination under section 302(a)(4) that the individual is eligible under State law to vote in the election unless, not later than 3 days after casting the provisional ballot, the individual presents to the official— (I) the identification required under subparagraph (A); or (II) an affidavit developed and made available to the individual by the State attesting that the individual does not possess the identification required under subparagraph (A) because the individual has a religious objection to being photographed.

Nothing in clause (i) may be construed to apply to the casting of a provisional ballot pursuant to section 302(a) or any State law for reasons other than the failure to present the identification required under subparagraph (A).

the appropriate State or local election official may not accept any ballot for an election for Federal office provided by an individual who votes other than in person unless the individual submits with the ballot— (i) a copy of a valid photo identification; or (ii) the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security number and an affidavit developed and made available to the individual by the State attesting that the individual is unable to obtain a copy of a valid photo identification after making reasonable efforts to obtain such a copy.

Subparagraph (A) does not apply with respect to a ballot provided by— (i) an absent uniformed services voter, as defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1)); or (ii) an individual provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii)).

shall ensure, to the extent practicable, public access to a digital imaging device, which shall include a printer, copier, image scanner, or multifunction machine, at State and local government buildings in the State, including courts, libraries, and police stations, for the purpose of allowing individuals to use such a device at no cost to the individual to make a copy of a valid photo identification.

Each State shall ensure that, at the time an individual applies to register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State, the appropriate State or local election official notifies the individual of the photo identification requirements of this section.

the online voter registration system notifies the individual of the photo identification requirements of this section before the individual completes the online registration process.

(b) Conforming amendment relating to voluntary guidance by Election Assistance Commission Section 311(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21101(b)) is amended—

(4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to section 303A, October 1, 2025.

Section 401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking sections 301, 302, 303, and 304 and inserting subtitle A of title III.

(d) Effective Date This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this section, and shall apply with respect to elections for Federal office held on or after such date.

Source snapshot updated 2026-08-20T22:41:40Z.

2025-12-18: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

2026-02-11: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 213 (Roll no. 69).

2026-02-12: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

2026-03-26: Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S1647)