S. 1383
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rick Scott
2 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE America Act
This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, and requires photo identification to vote, in federal elections.
Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship, a valid U.S. passport, or a valid government-issued photo identification card that shows the applicant's place of birth was in the United States.
Further, the bill (1) requires states to accept and process a voter registration application in the event of a name discrepancy in the applicant's documentation, as long as the applicant provides additional documentation; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.
Within 30 days of the bill's enactment, each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Further, each state must submit its complete official list of eligible voters to the Department of Homeland Security for comparison with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system, which is used to verify immigration status. Individuals who are identified as noncitizens must be given the opportunity to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters.
The bill (1) provides for a private right of action for certain violations, and (2) establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses.
The bill prohibits a state or local election official from providing a ballot for a federal election to an individual who does not present valid physical photo identification.
An individual who does not present the required identification must be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. However, an election official may not determine that the individual is eligible under state law to vote in the election unless, not later than three days after casting the provisional ballot, the individual presents (1) the identification required, or (2) an affidavit attesting that the individual does not possess the identification because of a religious objection to being photographed.
Further, an election official may not allow for voting methods other than in-person voting unless the individual submits the ballot with (1) a copy of their photo identification, or (2) the last four digits of their Social Security number with an affidavit attesting that the individual is unable to obtain a copy of a valid photo identification after making reasonable efforts to obtain a copy. This prohibition shall not apply to overseas military voters or individuals provided the right to vote other than in person under the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.
State and local government officials must provide, to the extent practicable, public access to a digital imaging device for the purpose of allowing individuals to use the device at no cost to make a copy of their valid photo identification.
Text of the bill
Where this section came from
Not in the first version (Introduced in Senate, Apr 9, 2025).
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Feb 11, 2026 · Engrossed Amendment House H.Amdt. 163: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1057, the amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 119-19, modified by the amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution (modified by the amendment specified in section 6 of H. Res. 1057), is considered adopted. Official page › H.Res. 1057: On Ordering the Previous Question — Passed, 216–214 · Roll Call 61 H.Res. 1057: On Agreeing to the Resolution, as Amended — Passed, 216–215 · Roll Call 62 On Motion to Commit — Failed, 214–217 · Roll Call 68On Passage — Passed, 218–213 · Roll Call 69
What does "considered adopted" mean?
When a chamber approves a rule that says a change is "considered adopted", the change becomes part of the bill as soon as the rule passes, without a separate vote on the change itself.
(a) Requirement to provide photo identification as condition of casting ballot
(1) In general. Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 303 the following new section:
303A. Photo identification requirements
(a) Provision of identification required as condition of casting ballot
(1) Individuals voting in person
(A) Requirement to provide identification. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in subparagraph (B), the appropriate State or local election official may not provide a ballot for an election for Federal office to an individual who desires to vote in person unless the individual presents to the official a valid physical photo identification.
(B) Availability of provisional ballot
(i) In general. If an individual does not present the identification required under subparagraph (A), the individual shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot with respect to the election under section 302(a), except that the appropriate State or local election official may not make a determination under section 302(a)(4) that the individual is eligible under State law to vote in the election unless, not later than 3 days after casting the provisional ballot, the individual presents to the official—
(I) the identification required under subparagraph (A); or
(II) an affidavit developed and made available to the individual by the State attesting that the individual does not possess the identification required under subparagraph (A) because the individual has a religious objection to being photographed.
(ii) No effect on other provisional balloting rules. Nothing in clause (i) may be construed to apply to the casting of a provisional ballot pursuant to section 302(a) or any State law for reasons other than the failure to present the identification required under subparagraph (A).
(2) Individuals voting other than in person
(A) In general. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in subparagraph (B), the appropriate State or local election official may not accept any ballot for an election for Federal office provided by an individual who votes other than in person unless the individual submits with the ballot—
(i) a copy of a valid photo identification; or
(ii) the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security number and an affidavit developed and made available to the individual by the State attesting that the individual is unable to obtain a copy of a valid photo identification after making reasonable efforts to obtain such a copy.
(B) Exceptions. Subparagraph (A) does not apply with respect to a ballot provided by—
(i) an absent uniformed services voter, as defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1)); or
(ii) an individual provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii)).
(b) Providing public access to digital imaging devices. With respect to each State, the appropriate State or local government official of the State shall ensure, to the extent practicable, public access to a digital imaging device, which shall include a printer, copier, image scanner, or multifunction machine, at State and local government buildings in the State, including courts, libraries, and police stations, for the purpose of allowing individuals to use such a device at no cost to the individual to make a copy of a valid photo identification.
(c) Valid photo identifications described. For purposes of this section, a valid photo identification means, with respect to an individual who seeks to vote in a State, any of the following:
(1) A valid State-issued motor vehicle driver’s license that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date.
(2) A valid State-issued identification card that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date issued by a State motor vehicle authority.
(3) A valid United States passport for the individual.
(4) A valid military identification for the individual.
(5) A valid identification document issued by a Tribal government that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date.
(d) Notification of identification requirement to applicants for voter registration
(1) In general. Each State shall ensure that, at the time an individual applies to register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State, the appropriate State or local election official notifies the individual of the photo identification requirements of this section.
(2) Special rule for individuals applying to register to vote online. Each State shall ensure that, in the case of an individual who applies to register to vote in elections for Federal office in the State online, the online voter registration system notifies the individual of the photo identification requirements of this section before the individual completes the online registration process.
(e) Effective date. This section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this section, and shall apply with respect to elections for Federal office held on or after such date.
(2) Clerical amendment. The table of contents of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item:
Sec. 303A. Photo identification requirements.
(b) Conforming amendment relating to voluntary guidance by Election Assistance Commission. Section 311(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21101(b)) is amended—
(1) by striking and at the end of paragraph (2);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting ; and; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to section 303A, October 1, 2025.
(c) Conforming amendment relating to enforcement. Section 401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking sections 301, 302, 303, and 304 and inserting subtitle A of title III.
(d) Effective Date. This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this section, and shall apply with respect to elections for Federal office held on or after such date.