The Republican-led House of Representatives approved legislation Wednesday that would require individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship in order to vote in the November midterm elections, a move Democrats argue would create new obstacles for voters and shift greater influence over elections toward President Donald Trump.

In a 218-213 vote, lawmakers passed the SAVE America Act, with just one Democrat joining Republicans in support. The measure now heads to the GOP-controlled Senate, where it is expected to be brought to the floor but faces steep odds, as it would likely need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

The proposal revives election-related legislation first introduced during the 2024 presidential campaign, when Trump repeatedly claimed—without evidence—that large numbers of people living in the country illegally were casting ballots in federal elections. Similar versions of the bill cleared the House twice before, once last April and again in 2024, but stalled in the Senate.

The vote came shortly after Trump urged Republicans to “take over” elections in more than a dozen jurisdictions. Under the legislation, individuals registering to vote in the midterms would be required to present documentation proving citizenship. The bill would also establish criminal penalties for election officials who register voters lacking the required proof.

In addition, House Republicans incorporated a photo identification requirement for voters casting ballots in person or by mail in future federal elections. They pointed to polling data, including a Pew Research Center survey indicating that 83% of voters—among them 71% of Democrats—support voter photo ID requirements.

House Speaker Mike Johnson characterized the measure as “common sense legislation to just ensure that American citizens decide American elections.” Democratic leaders, however, contend that the bill is designed to restrict access to the ballot and weaken their electoral prospects at a time when some independent analysts predict Democrats could regain control of the House.

Republicans have faced a series of setbacks in recent special elections, including a Texas state Senate race viewed within the party as a warning sign.

“The SAVE America Act is part of a comprehensive Republican strategy to cement power this year. Speaker Johnson wants to make it harder for Americans to vote, easier for Washington Republicans to control how elections are run,” said Rep. Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the House committee that oversees elections.

Federal law already bars non-citizens from voting in federal elections. Reviews conducted by organizations across the political spectrum, along with state election officials, have consistently found instances of such voting to be exceedingly rare.

The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, which leans left, has cautioned that the SAVE America Act could prevent millions of eligible citizens from voting if they lack immediate access to documents such as passports or birth certificates needed to verify citizenship.

Advocates for voting rights argue the legislation fits into a broader confrontation between the Trump administration and state governments. That conflict has included withholding federal funds, deploying National Guard troops, and an FBI search of a county election office in Georgia.

“We have checks and balances in place that include state and local officials acting as a check against federal overreach,” said Mai Ratakonda, program director of election protection at States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan group that works to safeguard free and fair elections. “That’s what the federal government is trying to undermine.”

Republicans are also preparing a separate and more expansive election proposal, the Make Elections Great Again Act. That bill would require paper ballots, limit the use of mail-in voting, and ban ranked-choice voting in federal general elections. It was the subject of a hearing before the House Administration Committee on Tuesday.

{Matzav.com}