Senate Republicans are moving to sharpen the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, signaling that election integrity will remain a central legislative priority as the 2026 cycle approaches.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Wednesday that GOP leadership intends to revise the SAVE Act to include a mandatory photo identification requirement for federal elections, closing what Republicans view as a conspicuous omission in the bill’s current form.
As originally drafted and passed by the House in April 2025, the SAVE Act focused primarily on the front end of the voting process. Introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, the legislation would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 by requiring documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, compelling states to clean voter rolls of non-citizens, and establishing criminal penalties for officials who knowingly register ineligible individuals. What it did not do, however, was require voters to present photo identification at the polling place itself.
Thune acknowledged that gap in remarks to reporters, noting that while the bill addresses citizenship at registration, it does not currently ensure that the person casting a ballot is the same eligible individual who registered.
That deficiency, he said, is now being “fixed and addressed” through revisions that would add a uniform photo ID requirement nationwide. Thune expressed confidence that the updated bill will command broad support among Senate Republicans.
The proposed change would represent a significant federal standardization. At present, voter identification requirements are a patchwork governed largely by state law.
Thirty-six states require some form of ID, though not always photo identification, while fourteen rely on alternatives such as signature matching or sworn statements. A federal photo ID mandate would override that variability for federal elections, creating a single national baseline.
Supporters of the amendment point to polling that consistently shows strong public backing for voter ID laws. Surveys indicate that roughly four out of five Americans support photo identification requirements, including majorities across party lines and among minority voters. Republicans also cite academic research, including a National Bureau of Economic Research study, finding no statistically significant impact on overall voter turnout from such laws.
Opponents remain unconvinced, arguing that stricter ID requirements could impose disproportionate burdens on voters who lack ready access to government-issued identification, particularly the elderly, low-income individuals, and those in rural areas. They also warn that federal mandates could infringe on state authority over election administration.
