Trump Pushes Congress on Voting Bill

Donald Trump has threatened to refuse signing new legislation unless Congress approves a strict voting reform bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote.

Speaking at a Republican event in Miami, the US president renewed his push for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, often called the SAVE Act or “Save America Act”.

“All voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote,” Trump said. “No mail-in ballots, except for illness, disability, military or travel.”

Get the latest headlines in your email

The president said the bill should take priority over other legislative business, repeating a warning he posted on the social media platform Truth Social.

“MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE,” he wrote, adding that he would not sign other bills until the measure is passed in its strongest form.

Trump also claimed that stricter voting rules could dramatically shift the political landscape.

“If this passes, Democrats probably won’t win an election for 50 years,” he said.

What the Proposed Law Would Do

The legislation has circulated in Congress for more than two years and aims to tighten requirements for voter registration and ballot casting in federal elections.

Among its main provisions are mandatory documentary proof of US citizenship — such as a passport or birth certificate — in order to register to vote, as well as photo identification requirements when casting ballots.

The bill would also require states to ensure only US citizens are on voter rolls and allow private individuals to sue election officials if someone is registered without proper documentation.

Another provision directs states to share voter registration lists with the Department of Homeland Security so citizenship can be verified.

Supporters say the measures are necessary to prevent voter fraud and ensure confidence in elections.

However, critics argue that the requirements would make registration far more complicated and risk excluding legitimate voters.

Bill Faces Difficult Path in Senate

The legislation has already passed the United States House of Representatives earlier this year, but its prospects in the United States Senate remain uncertain.

Because of the chamber’s filibuster rules, the measure would likely require 60 votes to move forward, meaning significant bipartisan support would be needed.

Some Republicans have called for the filibuster to be lifted in order to pass the bill.

Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate in a heated Senate race in Texas, said he would consider dropping out of the contest if Senate leaders agreed to remove the procedural barrier to passing the legislation.

Critics Warn of Voting Barriers

Voting rights groups argue the proposed law could disenfranchise millions of Americans.

Many citizens do not have readily available proof of citizenship. Only about half of Americans hold a valid passport, while other documents — such as birth certificates — may not match current legal names.

Advocates say this could particularly affect married women who changed their surnames and voters whose documentation has not been updated.

The Brennan Center for Justice said the measure could disproportionately impact younger voters and minority communities.

Research also suggests voting by non-citizens is extremely rare. The Bipartisan Policy Center has said there is no evidence that such cases occur frequently enough to affect election outcomes.

Still, Trump has repeatedly raised concerns about non-citizens participating in US elections and has suggested the federal government should take greater control over how elections are run — a responsibility traditionally handled by states and local authorities.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 09.03 2026

View full article

1 hour ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

Still, Trump has repeatedly raised concerns about non-citizens participating in US elections and has suggested the federal government should take greater control over how elections are run — a responsibility traditionally handled by states and local authorities.

Rather more than "traditionally handled by states" - doesn't the US Constitution stipulate that elections are the responsibility of individual states and not a Federal responsibility?

Why can't they just make passport a mandatory document, or make another mandatory picture ID card, which is proof of citizenship? With trillions Government is spending on stupid stuff, issuing 400 million plastic cards with photos on them would be peanuts. On a more serious note - does the government really not have a database of their citizens with their photos and fingerprints?

This from the man who claims you need ID to go shopping:

“All we want is voter ID. You go to a grocery store, you have to give ID. You go to a gas station, you give ID.”

In 2023, he falsely claimed identification was needed “if you buy a loaf of bread”.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/05/politics/fact-check-trump-groceries-identification

Why America still puts up with this buffoon is beyond me.

7 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Why can't they just make passport a mandatory document, or make another mandatory picture ID card, which is proof of citizenship? With trillions Government is spending on stupid stuff, issuing 400 million plastic cards with photos on them would be peanuts. On a more serious note - does the government really not have a database of their citizens with their photos and fingerprints?

Well they tell us half of Americans don't have passports. No doubt given time a system could be set up which will allow relatively easy issue of the appropriate document, but the point is this will not be able to be achieved in time for November's mid term elections. This in turn means that those particular elections will be marked by chaotic scenes, which will have the effect of disproportionately suppressing voting amongst young, working class, first time voters. The voting classes particularly likely, in the current political circumstances, to favour the Democrats.

Once the mid terms are in the bag so to speak, then on to construct a thorough system to allow "qualification gerrymandering". If they "lose" the midterms, well there will be effectively no political process open to the executive for the following two years, at best lame duck paralysis, at worst perhaps impeachment. The stakes are very high!

3 hours ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

“All voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote,”

Why would anyone oppose this, unless of course they’re criminally bent. And what other countries allow noncitizens to vote in their elections, none of course. So there you have it folks, the political left in the US aspire to criminality.

22 minutes ago, novacova said:

Why would anyone oppose this,

Reading the OP helps.

As he stated if this was enacted Democrats would not win an election for 50 years. His intentions are stated.

To enrol to vote I assume adequate proof of current eligibility must be established.

Re postal voting am sure he stated that he did himself but is no longer adequate for other voters?

Not surprised a convicted felon would resort to blackmail. 😄

Call it what it is: holding the entire legislative process hostage to force through a partisan voting restriction.

This isn’t about “election integrity”, it’s about power. If a leader is willing to shut down governance unless the rules are rewritten in his favor, that’s not democratic behavior by any definition.

And the irony? The U.S. is already one of the hardest countries in the developed world to vote in. Yet here we are, watching Trump push even further, threatening gridlock, risking shutdowns, and undermining trust in elections all over again.

Trump is dead right......this volume of illegal voting has to be totally eradicated......

4 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Why can't they just make passport a mandatory document, or make another mandatory picture ID card, which is proof of citizenship? With trillions Government is spending on stupid stuff, issuing 400 million plastic cards with photos on them would be peanuts. On a more serious note - does the government really not have a database of their citizens with their photos and fingerprints?

At least not officially is the answer to your ending inquiry. We still find "suspects" not having fingerprints on file. Mine might show up but only as a result of government employment long ago.

Someone's getting nervous..............poor Donald.....

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

During his speech at the recently renamed Trump-Kennedy Center (formerly the Kennedy Center), Trump warned that losing control of Congress in the upcoming November 2026 midterms would lead to his third impeachment:

"You gotta win the midterms 'cause, if we don't win the midterms, it's just gonna be—I mean, they'll find a reason to impeach me. I'll get impeached."

Probably too dumb to realize legislation that is passed becomes law anyway after 10 days, with or without his signature. With this Republican president and this Republican Congress, probably better anyway if legislation is held up.

23 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

This from the man who claims you need ID to go shopping:

“All we want is voter ID. You go to a grocery store, you have to give ID. You go to a gas station, you give ID.”

In 2023, he falsely claimed identification was needed “if you buy a loaf of bread”.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/05/politics/fact-check-trump-groceries-identification

Why America still puts up with this buffoon is beyond me.

Shoppers at a grocery store in Dayton, Ohio, US, on October 21.

Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg/Getty Images/File

President Donald Trump has revived one of the most bizarre false claims from his first presidency and his 2024 campaign: an assertion that Americans are required to show identification to buy groceries.

Trump was mocked when he made versions of this claim in 2018 and 2019 while pushing for stricter voter identification laws. But he said it again in 2023 as he ran for president, then said it once more on Wednesday morning while baselessly questioning the legitimacy of US elections in the wake of Republican defeats in various state and local elections the day prior.

“All we want is voter ID. You go to a grocery store, you have to give ID. You go to a gas station, you give ID,” Trump said Wednesday at .

Americans obviously do not need to provide identification to buy groceries or gas.

Grocery stores generally require identification for purchases of alcohol or tobacco, purchases of certain medications and for the small percentage of purchases made by personal check.

23 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Why can't they just make passport a mandatory document, or make another mandatory picture ID card, which is proof of citizenship? With trillions Government is spending on stupid stuff, issuing 400 million plastic cards with photos on them would be peanuts. On a more serious note - does the government really not have a database of their citizens with their photos and fingerprints?

Most Americans don't have a passport. In view of the fact that places like California have been issuing driving licenses to non-citizens, which can then be used as voter ID, maybe it is time to introduce federally authorised ID's, don't you think?

11 hours ago, cooked said:

Most Americans don't have a passport. In view of the fact that places like California have been issuing driving licenses to non-citizens, which can then be used as voter ID, maybe it is time to introduce federally authorised ID's, don't you think?

I do. I am just amazed there isn't one mandated already.

On 3/11/2026 at 9:08 AM, cooked said:

In view of the fact that places like California have been issuing driving licenses to non-citizens, which can then be used as voter ID...

This is false. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 explicitly prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Municipalities in three states (California, Maryland, and Vermont) and Washington, DC allow noncitizens to vote in certain local elections.

You shouldn't have to pay a fee to use the rights that have been granted to you as a citizen.