House Crushes Non-Citizen Vote Scam

House Republicans deliver a major victory for election integrity by passing the SAVE America Act, but Senate Democrats threaten to block this essential safeguard against non-citizen voting.

Story Highlights

Rep. Chip Roy and Sen. Mike Lee introduce enhanced SAVE America Act mandating photo ID for federal voting and proof of citizenship for registration.
House passes bill 218-213 with one Democrat crossing over, backed by President Trump.
Bill targets non-citizen voting risks from Biden-era immigration policies, nationalizing Texas-style voter ID standards.
Sen. Schumer vows to stall in Senate, calling it voter suppression despite federal laws already banning non-citizen votes.
Aligns with Sen. Lee’s motto: “Make It Easy to Vote, Hard to Cheat,” ahead of 2026 midterms.

Bill Introduction and Key Provisions

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX-21) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) launched the SAVE America Act in early 2026 as an upgraded version of the original SAVE Act from January 2025. This legislation requires in-person proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration using documents like REAL ID-compliant IDs. States must remove non-citizens from voter rolls using federal data from DHS and SSA. The new bill adds mandatory photo ID at polling places for federal elections, addressing gaps in the 1993 National Voter Registration Act that blocked stricter state checks.

House Passage Amid Trump Endorsement

The GOP-led House passed the SAVE America Act during the week of February 9, 2026, on a 218-213 vote, with one Democrat joining Republicans. President Trump endorsed it via social media, declaring America’s elections rigged and urging passage to secure them. Rep. Roy credited Trump for pushing the photo ID addition, calling the bill a critical step. GOP leaders like Majority Leader Scalise and Chairman Steil supported the effort, building momentum from the original SAVE Act’s House passage in April 2025.

Stakeholders and Motivations

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) cosponsored on February 2, 2026, praising Texas’s photo ID model already in place. Sponsors frame the act as commonsense protection against non-citizen voting, fueled by Biden-Harris policies allowing millions of illegal immigrants who gained driver’s licenses and risked registration. Election integrity advocate Cleta Mitchell aided the push. Republicans aim to nationalize secure standards before 2026 midterms, echoing post-2020 concerns over mail-in ballots without citizenship proof.

Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, oppose it as a voter suppression tactic targeting low-income, elderly, and minority voters lacking IDs. Schumer declared it dead on arrival in the Senate, despite federal law prohibiting non-citizen voting. This partisan divide highlights ongoing debates, with no evidence of widespread fraud noted by some outlets, yet GOP stresses preventing opportunities for abuse through lax sanctuary policies and registration.

Potential Impacts and Senate Outlook

If passed by the Senate, the SAVE America Act would standardize voter ID nationwide ahead of midterms, potentially reducing turnout among those without proper documents while scrubbing non-citizens from rolls. States face compliance costs for verification but gain tools to enforce integrity. Long-term, it pressures mail-in voting reforms and bolsters GOP stands on immigration and elections. Senate passage remains uncertain amid filibuster risks, with Trump applying pressure for GOP unity. Local non-citizen voting precedents in some areas fuel the urgency for federal action.