Whether or not the SAVE Act becomes law, having your documents in order protects your right to vote. Start today.
Before anything else, make sure your voter registration is active and your information is current. It only takes a minute.
Check at Vote.gov(opens in new tab)Confirm you're registered and your information is up to date. Don't wait until election season — databases are updated regularly.
Check at Vote.govFind your passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. You'll need originals — photocopies would not be accepted under the SAVE Act.
A U.S. passport is the single most reliable proof of citizenship. Routine processing takes 4–6 weeks; budget $130–$165 for a book.
Apply at State.govOrder from the vital records office in the state where you were born. Costs $7–$38 depending on the state; processing takes 2–6 weeks.
Order at USA.govBetween passport fees, birth certificate fees, and expedited shipping, most people should expect to spend $150–$200. Fee waivers may be available for low-income applicants.
The SAVE Act passed the House and moves to the Senate. Regardless of your position, let your senators know how you feel.
Find your senatorsClick any state to see its voter registration guide. States are colored by proof-of-citizenship law status.
Select your state to see current voter registration requirements, how to get your birth certificate, and direct links to your election office. States with a red left border currently have proof-of-citizenship laws.
Under the SAVE Act, voters would need to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Only a narrow set of federal documents are accepted.
Standard driver’s licenses, REAL IDs, military IDs, and tribal IDs would not qualify as proof of citizenship under this legislation.
Apply at a passport acceptance facility (usually a post office) with proof of citizenship, photo ID, passport photo, and fees. Renew online or by mail if eligible.
Official InfoContact the vital records office in the state where you were born. Order online through VitalChek (authorized vendor) or by mail/in-person at your county or state office.
Official InfoIf lost, file Form N-565 with USCIS. Original issued at naturalization ceremony.
Official InfoFor people who derived or acquired citizenship through parents. Apply using Form N-600 with USCIS.
Official InfoFor U.S. citizens born outside the U.S. whose parents reported the birth to a U.S. embassy or consulate. Request replacement from the Department of State.
Official InfoImportant Note for Married / Name-Changed Voters
Roughly 84% of married women in the U.S. change their surname. The SAVE Act does not explicitly mention marriage certificates as acceptable proof of citizenship. If your current legal name differs from the name on your birth certificate, a U.S. passport in your current legal name may be the most reliable document to satisfy the requirement.
Some citizens face extra hurdles. Find guidance for your situation below.
Numbers that show why proof-of-citizenship laws threaten eligible voters far more than they prevent fraud.
How the SAVE Act has progressed through Congress.
May 2024
SAVE Act (H.R. 8281) introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) [source]
July 2024
Passed House 220–208 (118th Congress). Died in Senate. [source]
Jan 2025
Reintroduced as H.R. 22 in 119th Congress [source]
Apr 2025
Passed House again. Stalled in Senate after public backlash. [source]
Jan 2026
Rebranded as SAVE America Act with expanded voter ID provisions [source]
Feb 11, 2026
SAVE America Act passed House 218–213 [source]
Feb 25, 2026
Trump urges passage at State of the Union. Thune signals talking filibuster unlikely.
Pending
Senate vote — needs 60 to overcome filibuster. Currently has ~50 Republican votes.
Regardless of your position on the SAVE Act, your senators need to hear from you. The bill's fate will be decided in the Senate.