Summary

The SAVE Act would require physical proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote. Supporters say it protects election integrity, but critics warn it could create barriers, especially for disabled, older, and low-income Americans who may have difficulty accessing documents.

The bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate. This is the key moment to act. People can call their U.S. Senators to oppose the bill or demand strong disability protections, push for automatic verification systems instead of document mandates, and advocate for fee waivers and accessibility guarantees before it becomes law.

What Is the SAVE Act?

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is a federal election bill that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship just to register to vote in federal elections. Under current practice, voters affirm their citizenship under penalty of perjury when they register; the SAVE Act would add a requirement to present physical documents such as a passport or a birth certificate at the time of registration.

In its latest iteration,  lawmakers have also tied photo identification requirements and other measures to the core proof-of-citizenship mandate.

Legislative Status and Partisan Debate

In February 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act along party lines, 218–213, moving the bill to the Senate amid sharp partisan divisions. Supporters argue the proposal strengthens election integrity; opponents contend it would make voting harder for millions of citizens.

Only one Democrat supported the House version of the bill, while Republican leaders maintain it addresses concerns about non-citizen voting, a problem that federal law already criminalizes and that evidence suggests is extremely rare.

Barriers to Voting: Disability and Documentation

Voting rights advocates, including disability rights organizations, have raised alarms about the bill’s potential to create new obstacles for eligible voters. Many Americans, particularly low-income individuals, older adults, and people with disabilities, lack ready access to primary citizenship documents such as passports or birth certificates.

For people with mobility limitations, sensory disabilities, or cognitive impairments, navigating the bureaucratic, financial, and logistical steps necessary to obtain or replace identification documents can be especially challenging. Clinics, transportation barriers, inaccessible government environments, and the unavailability of assistance compound these barriers,  meaning that even eligible voters may be unable to meet the documentary requirements.

Broader Concerns About Voter Suppression

Critics argue the SAVE Act would not only duplicate existing citizenship requirements but also shift the burden of verification from election officials onto individual voters themselves, creating administrative hurdles that could dampen participation across marginalized communities.

Voting rights groups warn that strict documentation mandates have historically been used to suppress turnout among people of color, rural communities, low-income voters, and people with disabilities, undermining the fundamental right to vote.

Why It Matters for the Disability Community

For many Americans with disabilities, voting is not just a civic duty but a matter of representation in decisions that affect access to healthcare, employment protections, social services, and public accommodations. If the SAVE Act makes it more difficult for people to register or maintain their registration, disabled voters could be disproportionately sidelined from the democratic process.

Access to the ballot box requires more than intention; it requires reasonable, equitable access to participation. Any law that adds obstacles without ensuring equitable access risks disenfranchising citizens who already face systemic barriers.

What Can Be Done Before the SAVE Act Is Passed?

The SAVE Act has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives. That means the Senate is now the critical decision point.

If the bill advances in the Senate, it moves closer to becoming law. If it stalls there, it can be blocked, amended, or fundamentally reshaped.

This is the moment for concentrated action.

Call Your U.S. Senators — Now

📞 The most immediate action is to call both of your U.S. Senators.

You can reach the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senator’s office.

When you call:

• State your name and zip code.
  
• Confirm you are a constituent.
  
• Urge them to oppose the SAVE Act or demand strong disability safeguards.
  

A concise script:

“I’m calling as a constituent urging Senator ___ to oppose the SAVE Act. Proof-of-citizenship requirements will create real barriers for disabled voters. Please ensure that no law moves forward without strong ADA protections and safeguards against disenfranchisement.”

Staff track call volume carefully. A surge in constituent opposition can influence undecided Senators, especially in closely divided chambers.

Push for Amendments or a Senate Block

At this stage, advocacy should focus on:

• Stopping the bill from advancing out of committee
  
• Securing disability-protective amendments
  
• Requiring automatic citizenship verification rather than physical document mandates
  
• Mandating fee waivers and accessibility guarantees
  

The Senate has the power to rewrite, delay, or halt legislation.

Why This Moment Matters

After House passage, legislative momentum increases. But the Senate is historically more deliberative. Bills can stall, be amended, or fail to advance.

This is the narrow window where disability voices can shape the outcome before the law is finalized.

Democracy must be accessible at the registration stage, not just at the ballot box.

If the SAVE Act becomes law without disability safeguards, the consequences will be far harder to reverse than they are to prevent today.

Now is the moment to act.