As voters head to the polls this fall for the midterm election, a drivers license as a form of voter identification may not be enough if a new bill before Congress passes this session. 

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE Act, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 11. If signed into law, the act will require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and mandate strict photo ID rules.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, verifying citizenship among voters became a common trend in 2025 and is anticipated to continue into 2026 as states continue to adopt required documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.

The legislation was supported by all four representatives from Iowa and passed through the House in a narrow 218–213 vote.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures reports, states decide how to enforce this requirement, but the SAVE Act would require states to collect and document proof of citizenship from voters, which few currently do, and establish additional voter list maintenance processes.

U.S. Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, said in a release on Feb. 11 the bill has “overwhelming support” from the American people. She cited a poll from Pew Research which showed 83 percent of the public supporting the government requiring people to provide identification to vote. 

“I was proud to vote to pass the SAVE America Act in the House to strengthen election integrity and protect the fundamental principle that only American citizens should decide the future of our nation,” Miller-Meeks said. 

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, also voted to approve the SAVE Act. He said in a release on Feb. 11 he supported the legislation because it ensures that only Americans will be allowed to vote.

“In Iowa, through commonsense reforms, we hold our elections as the gold standard — conducted with the utmost integrity, precision, and speed,” he said. “Voting is a fundamental American right, and the integrity of our elections must be upheld nationwide.”

The Iowa Senate approved Senate File 2203 and Senate File 2187 on Wednesday while the Iowa House advanced House File 2608 out of the judiciary committee on Feb. 19

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The bills, if passed, would require verification of U.S. citizenship, licensable identification, and voter registration to vote in federal elections. Additionally if a person is not verified as a U.S. citizen through the SAVE database, that person is designated as having “unconfirmed” status. 

In an interview with The Daily Iowan, Iowa Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City, a member of the House Judiciary committee, said he supported the legislation because it will maintain the integrity of the voting system.  

“We’ve agreed for many years, centuries, even, that the people who are voting in our elections are citizens of the place where the election is occurring,” he said. “If they’re not citizens, then they shouldn’t be voting.”