(Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images) |
By Andrew Garber, Connie Wu and Catherine Silvestri | State legislatures around the country are considering bills that would require Americans to present a passport or birth certificate to register to vote. Much of this legislation echoes the SAVE Act, a federal bill passed by the House in April that has now been pending in the Senate amidst significant opposition from legislators and constituents alike. It also mirrors a similar executive order signed by President Trump in March that two federal judges have partially blocked, including one in a Brennan Center lawsuit.
These policies purport to prevent widespread voting by noncitizens, which in reality is not a problem. Instead, the SAVE Act would block tens of millions of American citizens from voting because they don’t have ready access to the documents required. It would also upend voter registration systems nationwide. The state versions of the bill would cause similar damage to the freedom to vote.
Despite certain lawmakers prioritizing these suppressive policies, voters and advocates have been successful in slowing their progress in some states.
In total, lawmakers in at least 27 states have introduced one or more bills in 2025 that would require some or all voters to show citizenship documents to vote. So far, only Indiana and Wyoming enacted such laws. (Click here to read more) |
