Grassroots Voters Demand the SAVE America Act. Will Congress Listen?

As Senate Republicans hem and haw over the SAVE America Act, grassroots conservatives are beginning to lose patience. 

During a recent GOP event in Texas, several Sentinels, members of Heritage Action’s nationwide grassroots network, voiced growing frustration with what they see as unnecessary Senate delays.  

House Republicans acted months ago to pass the SAVE America Act; the legislation now sits in legislative limbo, waiting for Senate Republicans to bring the bill to a vote.  

“Get your act together,” said Sylvia, a Sentinel of 10 years. “The longer you drag your feet, the more you look like dead weight to us. We’re sick of the games.” 

Another Sentinel, John, put it in more serious terms. “American democracy is under threat with the way we mismanage our voting.” 

Their frustration reflects a growing belief among concerned conservatives who view election integrity as a top priority and expect Republican lawmakers to act decisively. For such voters, the SAVE America Act is a baseline requirement for restoring trust in the electoral system, and anyone standing in the way of its passage is a liability. 

But if Sentinels are impatient, House Republicans may be even more so.  

“The SAVE America Act is a very popular bill, maybe the most popular bill in America right now,” Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, told Heritage Action. “The only place this is controversial is in the United States Senate.” 

Cloud argued that election security shouldn’t be political, pointing to the bill’s bipartisan bona fides. “No matter where you are on the political spectrum, you want to know that elections are secure, that they’re safe, and that your vote is counted,” he said. 

Though some Senate Republicans seem to minimize the importance of the SAVE America Act, strong public support for the legislation shows the American people have a different opinion. Heritage Action polling shows 71% of Americans support the SAVE America Act, including wide swathes of Republicans, Democrats, and independents.  

At its core, the SAVE America Act seeks to strengthen election integrity through a series of commonsense reforms. The bill would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and mandate photo identification to cast a ballot. It would also compel states to maintain accurate voter rolls by removing noncitizens, ensuring that only eligible voters participate in federal elections. 

This would mean a more secure election system. Citizenship verification at registration ensures only eligible individuals are added to the voter rolls in the first place, while photo ID requirements provide additional protection at the ballot box, confirming that the person voting is the same individual who registered. If someone makes it through the cracks, they would be removed during routine voter roll clean-ups.  

Considering several blue states have expanded access to driver’s licenses for noncitizens, these provisions take on added importance. Such policies muddy the waters on election integrity and make it easier to cheat. By requiring both citizenship verification and voter ID, the SAVE America Act would go a long way in closing those vulnerabilities before they could be exploited. 

Working alongside Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah; Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas; and other allies, Heritage Action has urged senators to co-sponsor the legislation and Senate leadership to bring it to the floor, and to enforce the talking filibuster if the vote faces obstruction. Heritage Action also issued a Key Vote on the legislation in the House, putting dissenting members in the spotlight for failing to support conservative priorities.  

As a result, all but four Republican senators have now signed on as co-sponsors. 

Co-sponsorship is good; now the Senate must act. The SAVE America Act is a flagship election integrity bill strongly supported by the Trump administration, and Senate Republicans must move to pass it immediately.  

The grassroots demand it, and America’s elections depend on it. 

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