The US Senate voted 51-48 on Tuesday to begin debate on the Save America Act, a restrictive voting bill that would require new voters to provide proof of US citizenship. The legislation, previously known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, has been circulating in Congress for over two years and was passed by the House earlier this year.
The bill faces steep odds in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to overcome the filibuster. Republican Majority Leader John Thune has stated he lacks the votes to lift the filibuster, despite heavy lobbying. Debate is expected to last several days, with Republicans aiming to highlight what they claim are insecure elections and to put Democrats on record.
Democrats uniformly oppose the legislation, arguing it would disenfranchise millions of voters who lack birth certificates or other documents. Federal law already requires voters in national elections to be US citizens, but the bill would impose strict new proof requirements, including presenting approved identification at polling stations.
President Donald Trump has threatened not to sign any bills until Congress approves the legislation, calling it "one of the most IMPORTANT & CONSEQUENTIAL pieces of legislation in the history of Congress" on Truth Social. He has baselessly claimed that undocumented citizens are voting in large numbers, a phenomenon experts say is exceedingly rare.
Trump is also pushing for an amended version that would ban mail-in ballots, transgender participation in women's sports, and gender-affirming surgeries for minors. If passed, this version would need to return to the House. Trump warned that lawmakers voting against the act would face political consequences.
