Senate Stalls the Citizenship-Voting Bill, So States Start Cooking Their Own Rules

Washington is doing its favorite hobby: sitting perfectly still while the rest of the country argues over whether a checkbox is “security.” AP reported March 7 that the U.S. Senate is deadlocked on President Donald Trump’s push for stricter citizenship requirements for voting, even as multiple states move ahead with proof-of-citizenship proposals of their own.

What the federal bill would require

The proposal is the SAVE America Act, also called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. AP reports it would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, using documents such as:

• a U.S. passport,
• a naturalization certificate, or
• a birth certificate paired with a government-issued photo ID.

AP also says it would require photo ID to cast a ballot, something some states already require.

Why it is stuck in the Senate

According to AP, the Republican-led House approved the bill last month on a mostly party-line vote. In the Senate, it is stalling under a filibuster threat from Democrats. Congress.gov shows a Senate version (S.3752) was introduced on January 29, 2026 and referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

States forging ahead anyway

AP reports proof-of-citizenship legislation:

• won final approval in South Dakota and Utah,
• passed one chamber in Florida,
• got a committee hearing in Missouri, and
• in Michigan, supporters submitted 750,000 petition signatures to try to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

South Dakota and Utah, AP says, are moving toward a two-tier voting system: voters who prove citizenship can vote in all elections, while those who do not prove it can still vote in federal elections for president, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House. AP notes this mirrors Arizona’s setup after a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling limiting what states can demand for federal elections.

AP says Utah’s bill also directs election officials to use an online service from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to check the citizenship status of existing voters, with notices sent to flagged voters requesting proof to remain eligible for all elections.

Florida and Michigan would not require proof at registration, AP reports. Instead, they create reviews that can trigger documentation requests. Florida would verify citizenship using the state’s driver’s license database, and Michigan’s proposal would have the secretary of state review multiple records, including driver’s license and juror records, plus federal Homeland Security and Social Security data.

The fight: verification vs. burdens

AP notes noncitizen voting is rare, though it cites a 2024 Michigan case involving a student from China charged with perjury and attempted illegal voting who later fled the country. AP also reports concerns that proof requirements can be complicated for some citizens, citing a 2024 report estimating about 21 million voting-age citizens (around 9%) lack documentary proof of citizenship or cannot easily obtain it. AP points to Kansas, where a proof-of-citizenship law adopted about 15 years ago blocked more than 31,000 U.S. citizens from registering; federal courts ultimately found it an unconstitutional burden, and it has not been enforced since 2018.

AP notes lawsuits are common when states pass proof-of-citizenship requirements. Whatever side you’re on, the argument is headed straight for the courts, because confidence in elections is what everybody is really trying to protect.