US President Donald Trump’s “Save America Act,” a Republican-backed voter requirements bill recently passed by the House, is now facing an uncertain future in the Senate. The SAVE Act would require Americans to prove their citizenship when registering to vote and present a valid photo ID before casting their ballots. Although federal law requires voters in national elections to be US citizens, it does not require proof of citizenship, unlike the proposed legislation. Under the proposed legislation, election officials who register a voter without obtaining the required proof of citizenship could face criminal penalties. The bill would require people who have changed their names to submit additional documents to verify their identity, raising concerns for those who changed their names after marriage. Trump has urged the GOP to pass the measure through both chambers of Congress so he can sign it into law, stating that he will not “sign anything until this is approved.” He also said that signing the measure will “guarantee the midterms,” referring to November’s congressional elections, and warned, “If you don’t get it, big trouble, my opinion.” Trump's support for the bill stems from his repeated claim that the 2020 presidential election, which he lost, was stolen by widespread voter fraud. There is no evidence that this was the case. His proposed amendments include banning postal ballots, except for voters with disabilities or the US military. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to bring the election bill to the floor, but it is likely to fail due to Democratic opposition and the 60-vote threshold. Thune plans to move forward despite increasing pressure from Trump and Senate Republicans to force a “talking filibuster,” which would require Democrats to hold the floor continuously to block the bill.
