Wednesday, February 18, 2026-Republicans in the U.S. Congress is moving aggressively on a slate of voting‑related legislation as they brace for potential losses in the 2026 midterm elections.
The Republican‑controlled House narrowly passed the SAVE America Act, a high‑profile bill that would impose a national photo ID requirement and require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. The legislation passed 218–213, with only one Democrat joining Republicans in support, and now heads to the Senate where it faces a steep climb due to filibuster rules and strong Democratic opposition.
Supporters of the GOP proposals argue these measures are designed to bolster “election integrity,” responding to longstanding Republican claims—despite limited evidence—of widespread fraud. The bills would also tighten rules on mail‑in ballots and require states to coordinate voter rolls with federal databases to remove noncitizens.
Backers, including former President Donald Trump and House leadership, have tied the effort to broader concerns about securing elections and restoring public confidence amidst a highly polarized political environment.
Democrats and voting rights advocates have condemned the push as a partisan attempt to suppress turnout, especially among younger, lower‑income, and minority voters who are statistically less likely to possess the specific documentation the new rules would demand.
They warn that if such laws become federal policy, millions of eligible Americans could face unnecessary hurdles at the polls. With the 2026 elections looming, the debate over these voting restrictions is highly consequential—pitting competing visions of electoral fairness and access against one another at a critical moment for U.S. democracy.
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