Former President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign for stricter voter eligibility laws, specifically advocating for the SAVE Act following claims of widespread voter fraud in Nevada. On Tuesday, he voiced his support on Truth Social, labeling the electoral process as “totally RIGGED” and suggesting that those implicated in the alleged fraud should face severe penalties.
The claims shared by Trump included assertions that numerous individuals voted multiple times, that some deceased voters participated, and that there were instances of voters residing outside the state. Additional allegations included votes being associated with non-existent addresses, as well as participation by non-citizens.
The SAVE Act, short for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, aims to implement significant changes to voter registration across the United States. According to an analysis by the Center for American Progress, the proposed legislation would mandate that all U.S. citizens present documentary proof of citizenship in person when registering to vote or updating their registration. Required documents would include valid passports or birth certificates, while government-issued IDs, including driver’s licenses, would not suffice.
If the SAVE Act is passed, it would reform the existing voter registration framework by eliminating online registration and disallowing mailed-in registration forms. In-person visits to election offices with original or certified documents would become mandatory for any updates, including changes of address or name.
Experts have cautioned that the legislation could particularly impact marginalized groups. Reports suggest that approximately 146 million Americans do not possess a valid passport, a number comparable to projected turnout for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The divide is pronounced in Republican-leaning states where passport ownership rates are lower. Furthermore, the act could disproportionately affect women, as many change their surnames upon marriage, which may lead to mismatched identification documents that the bill does not adequately address.
Trump has called on Republican lawmakers to expedite the implementation of a national voter ID law before the 2026 midterm elections, expressing urgency for action. He has previously promoted the SAVE Act, which successfully passed the House in 2025 but faced challenges in the Senate, hinting that it may be rebranded to “Save America Act.” Support from several Republican figures, including Senator Mike Lee and Representative Byron Donalds, has bolstered Trump’s push, emphasizing the act’s agenda to secure votes for U.S. citizens.
Conversely, Democrats have fiercely opposed the legislation, characterizing it as a tactic for voter suppression that could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters by imposing excessive barriers to registration. The current discourse surrounding the SAVE Act highlights a significant divide in how voter eligibility and election integrity are approached in contemporary American politics.