Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
SAVE America Act - 119S1383
A Blog about Voter ID
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Federal and more specifically Voter ID as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Federal
This should be a fairly limited bills area for management the overall structures like highways, military, federal buildings, federal laws, and the like. However it has become the micro manager of all micro managers. They get involved in areas that no federal government should be involved in, and shift more power upward. This has led to each party trying to run over the other party in the eyes of the voters, all the while doing everything possible to maintain their power. They do this by holding onto all of the money, and claiming they know best how it should be spent. But they run debts so badly that no one should be looking to them as an example of anything other than the way to overspend and go further into debt.
Summary of Voter ID
Panic is being created over voter id requirements that so 40 countries require.
Blog Summary
Various forms of proof of US citizenship are required to register to vote in a Federal election
SAVE America Act - 119S1383
Published: 2026-02-19
Originally titled An Act to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes
As of the writing on this blog, this bill has not yet passed in the Senate. However it has passed in the House as of February 2026. All Republicans in the House voted Yea, along with 1 Democrat. Henry Cuellar, Texas.
Reading through this bill, which was the only one I saw the was recently passed in the House, I don't see where this would prevent voting. Does it potentially add a step to registering, yes. Does it potentially mean that it may not be as convenient to register as it once was in some places, yes. However, there are so many means by which one can prove citizenship that if you want to vote it would not prevent you from doing so. If these tiny hurdles prevent you from voting, then you are probably not doing sufficient research prior to voting anyway. I've seen some claim they only had Certificates of live birth and not a birth certificate. Okay, first of all if you wanted a passport you would have to request an actual certified copy of a birth certificate. They are not all that difficult to acquire. I acquired mine long before 'internet' was a thing from a state I have only resided in for about 1 year. I had to do it all by making a long distance call, when I paid per minute, to get the costs and address information. Then I had to get a cashiers check, write a letter, and mail it along with a postage paid return envelope. It probably took close to 3 weeks but I managed to get it, and I've held on to it ever since. Second, there are guidelines for using the certificate of live birth as proof.
For those saying if you changed your name when you were married, that is the purpose of your marriage license. For any who didn't keep that, you can easily request it from the local government where you were first married. Same entity that generally issues birth certificates. I personally got mine immediately so that I could change my social security card before I moved to a new state. That way my new driver's license was issued with the correct name. Yes, I did provide my certified marriage license, birth certificate, old but valid driver's license, and old and new social security cards. They were all documents that I either carried on me or that I kept in a fire proof safe.
For any that are panicking, I would suggest the following: 1. if you have a US issued passport or enhanced real id that is valid - no worries, you are fine; 2. if you don't have either of the above, if you have a certified copy of your birth certificate and marriage license, if applicable, then no worries, you are fine; 3. if you don't have 1 or 2, then I'd suggest going on line and checking into getting those documents now. The cost is generally minimal, and some states may have a means of requesting them with no cost of those that meet specific requirements. Do it soon, and then put them in a safe place - like perhaps a fire proof small safe in your home or apartment. Then whenever you need them, to register to vote or get a passport or whatever, you'll know right where they are. It's not like they expire and I've always received them back when mailing them in for proof of citizenship.
Adoption paperwork can be certified by the court that did the final order of adoption.
Please don't buy into the panic. There is no need. They are merely trying to bait you into being angry over something that you should not be angry about. 41 Countries require id to vote. You need id to open a bank account, buy alcohol, write a check (okay I know most people don't do this anymore), by multiple items at the grocery store including canned air and spray paint, drive a vehicle, board a plane, enter any federal building, start a new job, cash a check, pick up prescriptions, access medical care, checking into a hotel or motel, picking up packages, applying for food stamps or any welfare benefits, applying for Medicaid and social security, buying or renting a vehicle, getting married, purchasing a gun, applying for hunting/fishing license, donating blood, purchasing mature-rated items; or purchasing tobacco.
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20502) will be amended if this bill is passed and signed into law.
Proof of United States citizenship for the purpose of voter registration includes any of the following:
- Identification consistent with the requirements of REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States;
- a valid United States passport;
- a United States military id, along with US military record of service showing place of birth in the US;
-
valid government issued id that was issued by the Federal, State, or Tribal government showing applicant's place of birth was US and at least one of the following:
- certified birth certificate issued by the State, local government or Tribal government where the applicant was born, in the office of vital statistics, and includes full name/date of birth/place of birth, lists parents, and has official signature and seal;
- extract from a US hospital record of birth created at the time of birth in the US;
- final adoption decree showing the applicant's name and place of birth in the US;
- Consular report of birth aboard of a US citizen or certificate of applicant's report of birth of a US citizen issued by the Secretary of State;
- Naturalization certificate issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security or other method of proof of US citizenship issued by the Federal government under the Immigration and Nationality Act;
- American Indian Card issued by the Department of Homeland Security with the KIC classification
States may not register applicants to vote in an election for Federal office unless there is documentary proof of US citizenship presented with the application. States must verify US citizenship when issuing driver's license that are used as proof of US citizenship for voting. Mail in ballots require proof of US citizenship. For states that permit registering and voting on the same day, they must ensure that proof of citizenship is presented for voting in any Federal election.
For those without documentary proof, the applicant must sign under penalty of perjury that they are a US citizen, and submit other such evidence required by the state or local official that demonstrate they are a US citizen, and that the state or local official finds it sufficient proof. The state or local official must sign an affidavit affirming the above is sufficient to proof US citizenship.
The Election Assistance Commission will develop the affidavits for use that include the minimum standards required for proof of US citizenship to vote in elections for Federal office and require the official to explain the basis for registering by this means.
Within 30 days of becoming law, each state must submit a list of it's states registered voters to the Department of Homeland Security for comparison through Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlements system. This is to identify individuals that are not US citizens and the state must take necessary steps to remove them from the official list. The individual must first be notified and be provided time to provide the necessary documentary proof of US citizenship.
The Secretary of Homeland Security can determine if an alien that is registered to vote shall have a removal proceeding.
Mail voter registration must follow rules to ensure registering only US citizens.
There may be criminal penalties for failure to follow the Act.
If a state does not maintain voter registration rolls, then the state must ensure a system for confirming citizenship of individuals voting in a Federal election prior to the first day of voting for said election. And proof of same must be provided to election officials at the polling places during the voting period.
Upon notice that an individual becomes a naturalized citizen of the US, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly notify the appropriate election official in the state in which they are domiciled.
An absent uniformed services voter is not included in these requirements.
Amending the Help America Vote Act of 2002, requires a person appearing in person to vote in a Federal election to present a valid physical photo identification. There are guidelines for casting a provisional ballot and what must be done within 3 days after to ensure it is counted. When voting is not done in person, the person must submit the ballot; a copy of a valid photo identification or the last 4 digits of their Social Security number and an affidavit attesting they were not able to obtain a copy of their photo identification after making reasonable efforts to do so.
Each state must ensure that a printer, copier, image scanner, or multifunction machine is available in state and local government buildings (including courts, libraries, and police stations) that permit individuals to make a copy of a valide photo identification for no cost.
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