Senator Ron Johnson joined Senator Ted Cruz and colleagues in supporting a petition to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
Require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
Occurrences
The SAVE America Act will boost confidence by requiring proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote. I had a great meeting with President Trump, Senator Rick Scott, and Senator Mike Lee in the Oval Office. We all agree 100% with President Trump on this issue and are working to get this passed in the Senate.
Johnson, Scalise Push SAVE Act to Require In-Person Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration ... The bill, reintroduced as H.R. 22 in the 119th Congress, would prohibit states from accepting or processing registration applications without such proof, effectively halting online voter registration, mail-in forms, and voter registration drives that do not allow direct document verification. ... Johnson and Scalise are urging swift action to codify these changes amid ongoing discussions on federal election processes.
we respectfully urge the Commission to grant this petition and update federal regulations accordingly. Requiring documentary proof of citizenship will strengthen the integrity of our elections, safeguard the voices of American citizens, and ensure that every lawful vote is protected from being diluted by unlawful ballots
I was happy to cosponsor the SAVE Act in the Senate. This legislation aimed to secure our elections by requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
As soon as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday requiring voters to prove their citizenship in future elections, voting rights groups filed a legal challenge against it. The bill (HB 991), part of which takes effect Jan. 1 - after the 2026 election cycle - is Florida's version of the proposed federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act. As with the stalled federal proposal, the state effort requires citizenship paperwork and a photo ID, such as a Florida driver's license, U.S. Passport, or concealed carry permit, when an individual registers to vote and before they vote at the ballot box.
While Congress remains deadlocked on the SAVE America Act that would require U.S. citizenship to register to vote, that requirement will soon become the law of the land in Florida now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the latest “voting integrity” legislation. The governor signed the bill ( HB 991 ) into law Wednesday in The Villages following its approval by the Florida Legislature last month. The law requires people who are registering to vote to produce evidence of citizenship, such as a valid passport or birth certificate. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
President Trump has repeatedly called on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, a straightforward, commonsense bill to ensure that only American citizens cast ballots. ... On the campaign trail in 2024, President Trump vowed: “We will secure our elections, and they will be secure once and for all.”
the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and in coordination with the Commissioner of SSA, shall take appropriate action to compile and transmit to the chief election official of each State a list of individuals confirmed to be United States citizens who will be above the age of 18 at the time of an upcoming Federal election and who maintain a residence in the subject State (State Citizenship List). The State Citizenship List shall be derived from Federal citizenship and naturalization records, SSA records, SAVE data, and other relevant Federal databases. The State Citizenship List shall be updated and transmitted to State election officials no fewer than 60 days before each regularly scheduled Federal election, or promptly upon request by a State in connection with any special Federal election.
Senator Dick Durbin criticized the SAVE America Act, stating it would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters by imposing extreme voting requirements, including proof of citizenship.
Senator Bill Hagerty urged the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, emphasizing that the right to vote in American elections belongs exclusively to American citizens.
The SAVE America Act ... would require individuals to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote as well as photo identification before voting in a federal election. The legislation would also ensure states appropriately maintain voter rolls by removing non-citizens from existing voter rolls.
While Congress remains deadlocked on the SAVE America Act that would require U.S. citizenship to register to vote, that requirement will soon become the law of the land in Florida now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the latest “voting integrity” legislation.
To the extent feasible and consistent with applicable law, including but not limited to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and in coordination with the Commissioner of SSA, shall take appropriate action to compile and transmit to the chief election official of each State a list of individuals confirmed to be United States citizens who will be above the age of 18 at the time of an upcoming Federal election and who maintain a residence in the subject State (State Citizenship List). The State Citizenship List shall be derived from Federal citizenship and naturalization records, SSA records, SAVE data, and other relevant Federal databases.
Evidence
The SAVE America Act will boost confidence by requiring proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote. I had a great meeting with President Trump, Senator Rick Scott, and Senator Mike Lee in the Oval Office. We all agree 100% with President Trump on this issue and are working to get this passed in the Senate.
On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) in a bicameral comment letter in support of a petition by the America First Legal Foundation to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
I was happy to cosponsor the SAVE Act in the Senate. This legislation aimed to secure our elections by requiring proof of citizenship to vote. It passed in the House, but not the Senate.
U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Jim Banks (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Congressmen Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Pat Fallon (TX-04), and a group of their colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, sent a bicameral comment letter in support of a petition filed with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission by the America First Legal Foundation to add a requirement of proof of U.S. citizenship to the National Mail Voter Registration Form.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise are leading Republican efforts to advance the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a measure that would mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship presented in person to election officials for federal voter registration.
The House on Wednesday passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration, a proposal Republicans have prioritized as an election-year talking point even as research shows noncitizens illegally registering and casting ballots in federal elections is exceptionally rare.
Florida voters could be required to prove their citizenship at the ballot box, but not until after the 2026 elections, under a bill headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
While Congress remains deadlocked on the SAVE America Act that would require U.S. citizenship to register to vote, that requirement will soon become the law of the land in Florida now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the latest 'voting integrity' legislation.
On March 31, 2026, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to strengthen election integrity by ordering citizenship verification for Federal elections and modernizing mail-in and absentee ballot procedures.
Senator Ron Johnson met with President Trump, Senator Rick Scott, and Senator Mike Lee in the Oval Office to discuss the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote.
The Executive Order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to compile and transmit to each State a State Citizenship List of confirmed U.S. citizens who will be 18 or older at the time of the next upcoming Federal election and reside in that State.
Senator Dick Durbin criticized the SAVE America Act, stating it would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters by imposing extreme voting requirements, including proof of citizenship.
Senator Bill Hagerty urged the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, emphasizing that the right to vote in American elections belongs exclusively to American citizens.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a Florida law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, similar to the federal SAVE America Act, which faced immediate legal challenges from voting rights groups.
Senators John Cornyn and Mike Lee, along with Representative Chip Roy, introduced the SAVE America Act, requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID for voting in federal elections.
Senator Mike Lee and Congressman Chip Roy introduced the SAVE America Act, an expanded version of the SAVE Act, requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship for federal elections.
On March 31, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled 'Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections.' The order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to compile and transmit to each state's chief election official a list of individuals confirmed to be U.S. citizens residing in that state. Additionally, it mandates the U.S. Postal Service to implement measures ensuring that mail-in ballots are sent only to verified citizens.
On February 16, 2026, Senator Ron Johnson met with President Trump, Senator Rick Scott, and Senator Mike Lee in the Oval Office to advocate for the SAVE America Act. This legislation aims to require proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID for voting in federal elections.
On October 23, 2025, Senator Ron Johnson joined Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Eli Crane in a bicameral comment letter supporting a petition by the America First Legal Foundation. The petition urges the Election Assistance Commission to amend its regulations to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
On September 23, 2021, a federal court ruled that a former U.S. Election Assistance Commission official violated federal law by allowing three states to require documentary proof of citizenship on the federal voter registration form. The court found that the official's actions were 'arbitrary and capricious' and violated the Administrative Procedures Act.
On April 1, 2026, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law requiring individuals registering to vote to provide evidence of citizenship, such as a valid passport or birth certificate. The law is set to take effect in January 2027 and has already faced legal challenges from voting rights groups.
As of March 17, 2026, several states have enacted laws requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. However, many of these laws have faced legal challenges and are not currently in force. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 provides certain registration requirements for federal elections, and states have taken varying approaches to ensure only citizens can register to vote.
On October 21, 2025, Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Eli Crane led a bicameral comment letter supporting a petition by the America First Legal Foundation. The petition urges the Election Assistance Commission to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. The letter emphasizes that requiring documentary proof of citizenship is a common-sense reform to ensure only citizens are added to voter rolls.
On October 21, 2025, Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, along with other colleagues, sent a bicameral comment letter supporting a petition by the America First Legal Foundation. The petition urges the Election Assistance Commission to add a requirement of proof of U.S. citizenship to the National Mail Voter Registration Form. The letter argues that requiring documentary proof of citizenship is a reasonable step to ensure only citizens are added to voter rolls.
Congress.gov shows H.R. 22 would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections, but the bill's status is still "Passed House" and its latest action is only "Received in the Senate."
The action history for H.R. 22 ends with the House passage on 2025-04-10 and a Senate receipt the same day; the status table still stops at "Passed House" and does not show any Senate passage or enactment.
AP reported that the Trump administration was pressuring states through funding threats and DOJ letters, but these actions were pressure and enforcement efforts, not enactment of a federal documentary-proof voter-registration requirement.
AP reported that U.S. District Judge Denise Casper permanently barred most provisions of President Trump's elections executive order, including the provision seeking documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Congress.gov lists H.R. 22's latest action as Senate receipt on April 10, 2025, and the tracker status as Passed House, with Senate passage, presentment, and enactment still not completed.
The engrossed House text would amend the NVRA so a state could not accept and process a federal-election voter-registration application unless the applicant presented documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
Johnson said the SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register and that he, President Trump, Senator Rick Scott, and Senator Mike Lee were working to get it passed in the Senate.
Congress.gov lists Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin as a cosponsor of S. 4292, the Senate SAVE Act, with a cosponsorship date of May 14, 2024.
Assessments
Ron Johnson materially supported the promised policy by cosponsoring or backing SAVE Act/SAVE America Act efforts and joining a bicameral letter urging the Election Assistance Commission to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. However, the core statutory vehicle had not been enacted; Congress.gov evidence shows H.R. 22 passed the House but was only received in the Senate. President Trump's executive order addressed citizenship verification in federal elections, but the evidence provided does not show that Johnson's precise promised outcome, a binding documentary proof requirement for voter registration in federal elections, was fully implemented. This warrants partial credit for concrete same-term advancement, not full delivery.
Johnson materially pursued this promise in office: he said he cosponsored the Senate SAVE Act in October 2024, joined an October 21-23, 2025 push to require proof of citizenship on the federal voter-registration form, and on February 16, 2026 publicly advocated passage of the SAVE America Act. But the core federal legislation still had not become law; H.R. 22, the SAVE Act, passed the House on April 10, 2025 and was only received in the Senate, with no Senate passage or enactment. President Trump's March 31, 2026 executive order increased citizenship verification and list-sharing, but it did not itself create the specific nationwide requirement that registrants present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering for federal elections. Because Johnson made a serious legislative and regulatory effort but the promised federal requirement was not actually delivered, the best judgment is never with effort credit.
Johnson supported and cosponsored efforts such as the SAVE Act/SAVE America Act and joined letters urging documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration, but the core promised federal requirement has not been enacted. The House passed related legislation and the Senate debated it, but it did not pass the Senate or become law. President Trump’s 2026 executive order advanced citizenship-verification measures, but it did not itself establish the promised documentary proof requirement for voter registration, and it is an executive action by another official rather than full delivery of Johnson’s legislative promise. Because Johnson made serious same-term efforts without achieving the promised outcome, this is a failed delivery with an effort badge.
Senator Ron Johnson advocated for and took significant legislative action to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections, including co-signing comment letters, promoting the SAVE America Act, and meeting with executive leaders. However, there is no evidence that these efforts resulted in successful federal legislation or a policy change directly fulfilling Johnson's promise—while President Trump issued an executive order related to citizenship verification, an executive order does not equate to a legal requirement for documentary proof at registration as described in the promise. Legal and practical implementation remains incomplete, and the specific federal mandate promised was not delivered. Therefore, the outcome is 'never,' but the effort badge is awarded for documented, earnest legislative and executive efforts.
Senator Ron Johnson made multiple legislative and advocacy efforts to fulfill his promise to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. He co-sponsored and supported the SAVE Act and SAVE America Act, participated in key meetings, and cosigned petitions and comment letters. Several bills passed the House but stalled in the Senate, and there is no evidence that a federal requirement was successfully enacted into law. While an Executive Order regarding citizenship verification was issued, its legal or practical effect in requiring documentary proof for voter registration is ambiguous and likely not equivalent to a legislative requirement. Johnson's persistent advocacy and sponsorship efforts are clear, but the core outcome—a federal law mandating documentary proof of citizenship for registration—was not delivered during the term.
Senator Ron Johnson actively promoted, co-sponsored, and advocated for federal legislation (notably the SAVE Act) to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. These efforts included support for petitions, public advocacy, and legislative sponsorship. However, despite these considerable efforts, the legislation did not pass the Senate and did not become federal law. Therefore, while there was significant and documented effort, the promise was not fulfilled.