On Sunday, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) announced that House Republicans will block Senate bills until the Senate addresses the SAVE America Act. She emphasized this issue as crucial for the nation’s democracy.
“This is the issue of our time! I am fine with holding Sen. Thune hostage until we get this done. Figuratively, not literally,” Mace stated. She highlighted that there is widespread agreement across various demographics and political affiliations on the principle that only citizens should participate in elections.
According to Mace, the SAVE America Act is the best measure to safeguard democracy. This legislation, formally termed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (H.R. 7296), was passed in the House on February 12, 2026, with a vote of 218-213.
The Act mandates that states must verify U.S. citizenship before processing voter registration applications for federal elections. Acceptable documents include passports and birth certificates issued by state or local governments, along with specific other records confirming citizenship status.
Moreover, the legislation requires states to implement government-issued photo identification for voters in federal elections. Additional provisions allow states to develop alternative processes for individuals lacking immediate access to standard citizenship documents, and it mandates federal agencies to collaborate with state election officials in verifying voter eligibility.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has noted a lack of the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, as Republicans control only 53 seats in the Senate. He has stated that available votes are a concern and has organized limited debate time on the bill.
House Republicans, including Mace and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), have publicly supported using procedural strategies to delay unrelated Senate legislation, encouraging Senate responsiveness on the SAVE Act. Mace has continuously asserted the importance of the SAVE America Act for election integrity.
Following its passage in February, Mace highlighted that the bill had almost unanimous Republican support and one Democrat’s vote. Public opinion backs the measure as well, with surveys indicating that around 85 percent of Americans favor requirements for proof of citizenship and photo ID in voting.
