By Aliss Higham

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The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly approved a sweeping election bill that could alter how Americans register and cast ballots in federal elections.

The Republican-controlled House passed the SAVE America Act on Wednesday by a 218–213 vote. Backed by President Donald Trump, the 32-page bill would overhaul federal election rules by requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for anyone registering to vote in federal elections.

If enacted, voters would need to present that proof in person, using documents such as a U.S. passport or a birth certificate. The bill also mandates photo identification for in-person voting and tightens rules for mail-in ballots, requiring voters to submit a copy of an approved ID both when requesting and returning an absentee ballot.

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Whether ID is needed at polling booths across the U.S. is currently up to each individual state, meaning there is a patchwork of different rules across the country.

Voting ID Rules Across U.S.

At it stands, 36 states have enacted laws requiring voters to show either a photo ID or a non-photo identification document at the polls, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Acceptable non-photo options can include utility bills, bank statements or paychecks.

The remaining 14 states and Washington, D.C. allow voters to cast ballots in person on Election Day without presenting an ID document. These are:

• California
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachussets
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont

These states use what are known as “non-documentary” verification systems. Instead of showing papers, voters confirm their identity through other means, such as signing a poll book, swearing to their eligibility, or providing personal details. All states, regardless of their approach, have procedures in place to challenge a voter’s eligibility.

A map of the country highlights this divide, underscoring how the SAVE Act would impose a single federal standard on a landscape that is currently governed largely by state law.

Voter and Staff Responsibilities

In states that use non-documentary verification, voters may be asked to confirm their identity in one or more ways.

They can be required to sign an affidavit swearing they are eligible to vote, provide a signature in a poll book or on a ballot envelope, or give biographical information such as a name, address, or, in some cases, part of a birth date. Some states combine these steps rather than using just one.

Election officials then review the information provided. Signatures are often compared with voter registration records, while names and other details are checked against official lists or electronic poll books. These reviews are meant to confirm that the voter matches the registration on file.

Even in states without ID requirements, challenges to a voter’s identity or eligibility are permitted. Citizen poll watchers and other authorized individuals can raise concerns at the polls.

States that require voters to state their names aloud often instruct election officials to repeat them, a step designed to help challengers identify people who may be attempting to vote under another name or who are otherwise ineligible.

What Happens Next

The measure now heads to the Senate.

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