Tuesday’s State of the Union address to Congress covered a variety of policy priorities for the Trump administration including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, aimed at tightening voter identification requirements for elections.
The president took the opportunity to address his Republican and Democrat colleagues in the room to outline his desire to see the SAVE Act passed. He addressed those who oppose the legislation naming their intention to “cheat” as the driving force behind their opposition to the bill. He called it “very simple” stating that “all voters must show voter ID”. He then went on to detail a reduction in the availability of mail-in ballots for some individuals, while providing exceptions for others including those in the military.
The SAVE Act would require a national standard for proof of citizenship in order to vote, which is not the case in all parts of the country. The bill requires all individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship upon registering to vote. Additionally, it requires photo identification to vote in federal elections.
Similar past attempts to pass legislation similar to the SAVE Act have failed in prior years. The bill, sponsored by Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, passed the House of Representatives on February 11, 2026 and is currently in the Senate where it awaits a vote. Responding to the passage of the SAVE Act in the House of Representatives, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised Senate Democrats will work to see the bill fail.
The bill has drawn criticism by some who claim they would be unable to produce the relevant documentation needed to prove their citizenship status. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is among the bill’s vocal opponents expressing a similar claim that he would be unable to locate his birth certificate, stating in a video interview that he lost his birth certificate at age 7.
Conservative commentator Eric Daughtery shared the interview calling it embarrassing, and stated “you can get it on California’s website, Gavin!” (RELATED: Ryan Shaw’s Pride Push Collides With Wisconsin’s Wider Fight Over LGBTQ Policy in Schools)
The Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate will take up the SAVE Act for a vote this week given Congress’s return to D.C. for the address. It’s unclear whether they have the votes required to pass the SAVE Act, which would pave the way for widespread change ahead of the 2026 midterms.