- The SAVE Act was passed by the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and also snuck into a bill on congressional stock trading.
- The SAVE Act would require voters to provide documentation such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, because driver's licenses generally do not indicate citizenship, creating new barriers to voter registration.
- The SAVE Act threatens mail and online voter registration, which were used by over 21 million and almost 11 million Americans in 2022, respectively.
- Views of capitalism among registered voters dropped from 30 points positive in 2019 to just 4 points positive today (50%-46% favorable vs unfavorable).
- 65% of voters now agree the system is rigged to favor the wealthy, up from 56% in Trumps first term; among Republicans, those saying the system is rigged rose from 30% in 2018 to 42% today.
- Republican support for capitalism declined: 72% viewed it favorably, down to 61%; strongly positive views fell from 54% to 41%, leaving fewer than half of Republicans with a strongly favorable view.
- Additional polls show fewer than half of Americans say capitalism is working even somewhat well (down from 60% a decade ago), and large majorities think the wealthy and corporations dont pay their fair share.
The House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act on July 23, 2026, which requires proof of citizenship for voter registration, a move supported by allies of former President Trump.123456
This legislation imposes significant barriers to voter registration, mandating that voters provide documentation such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, rather than just a driver's license, which typically does not indicate citizenship.
In 2022, over 21 million Americans registered to vote by mail, and nearly 11 million registered online. The SAVE Act threatens these methods, requiring a complete overhaul of online registration systems and severely limiting mail registration.
Critics argue that the bill could disenfranchise millions, as many voters may lack the necessary documentation.
Furthermore, the SAVE Act mandates that states conduct frequent voter roll purges based on potentially faulty data, and imposes strict penalties on election workers who assist in registering voters without the correct documents, even if they are citizens.
Election workers could face up to five years in prison for such actions, raising concerns about the implications for voter access and election integrity.
The legislation also requires states to submit voter registration lists to the Department of Homeland Security for comparison with federal databases, with no restrictions on how this sensitive data can be used.
Campaign Legal Center has voiced strong opposition to the SAVE Act, highlighting its potential to silence millions of voters and create new barriers to participation in the electoral process.
“The SAVE Act would impose up to five years in prison for election workers who register voters without correct documents, even if the voter is a citizen. Separately, a poll shows Republican support for capitalism has fallen from 72% to 61%, with fewer than half now strongly favorable.”
