Schmitt’s amendment includes provisions to: · Require proof of citizenship to vote
Require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.
Occurrences
The right to vote in Federal elections is reserved exclusively for citizens of the United States under the Constitution and Federal law. ... 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 ... 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 ... no fewer than 60 days before each regularly scheduled Federal election ... The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish procedures to (i) allow individuals to access their individual records as well as to update or correct them in advance of elections; and (ii) enable States to routinely supplement and provide suggested modifications or amendments ...
Schmitt emphasized that American elections should be for American citizens...
Schmitt is leading the effort to insert a number of policies—including a ban on transgender surgeries for minors—that Trump wants made law into the SAVE America Act, a piece of election integrity legislation that would require proof of citizenship to vote and institute nationwide voter ID.
The election provisions would require Americans to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections, a change to current law.
Schmitt highlighted the importance of requiring proof of citizenship to vote...
His amendment would ... require proof of citizenship to vote...
Under any method of voter registration in a State, the State shall not accept and process an application to register to vote in an election for Federal office unless the applicant presents documentary proof of United States citizenship with the application ... The SAVE America Act would require people to present citizenship documents in person to election officials, even if they are registering by mail.
In addition to requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID for voting, the Missouri Republican’s substitute amendment would fulfill Trump’s calls to expand the legislation...
FACT: Proving citizenship to vote is a no-brainer. 85% of Americans agree that only U.S. citizens should vote in our elections and three quarters support proof of citizenship to vote. Commission on Federal Election Reform: 'The right to vote is a vital component of U.S. citizenship, and all states should use their best efforts to obtain proof of citizenship before registering voters.'
I'm supportive of it... It has a few different components; make sure that people are actually U.S. citizens when they vote
Evidence
U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt announced he will be introducing a substitute amendment to the SAVE America Act to include President Trump’s priorities to restore election integrity, including requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
Senator Schmitt appeared on Fox News to discuss the SAVE America Act, emphasizing the importance of requiring proof of citizenship to vote and addressing opposition from Senate Democrats.
Senator Schmitt joined Fox Business to tout the SAVE America Act as common sense legislation that includes requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
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.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia permanently enjoined the section of the Executive Order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, preventing the Election Assistance Commission from modifying the national mail voter registration form to require documentary proof of citizenship.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 30, 2026, aiming to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of United States citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
A companion bill to the SAVE America Act, S.3752, was introduced in the Senate on January 29, 2026, proposing similar amendments to require proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
The SAVE America Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and present photo identification when voting in federal elections.
The SAVE America Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2026, requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship at registration and a photo ID at the time of voting.
The Republican-led House of Representatives voted on February 11, 2026, to approve the SAVE America Act, requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote and present photo identification when voting in federal elections.
The SAVE America Act, passed by the House, requires individuals to show documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, raising constitutional questions about Congress's authority to impose such requirements.
The SAVE America Act aims to close gaps in voter registration by requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, with support from the America First Policy Institute's Attorney General Council.
Senator Eric Schmitt discusses the passage of the SAVE America Act by the House, emphasizing the requirement for proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.
The Postal Service published a proposed rule titled Ballot Mail for Federal Elections, stating it was acting under Executive Order 14399 and proposing new standards for mail-in and absentee ballots used in federal elections.
Congress.gov lists S.3752 as introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, with no indication it advanced to enactment.
Schmitt announced he would introduce a substitute amendment to the SAVE America Act that would require proof of citizenship to vote.
Schmitt used a Senate office press release to promote the SAVE America Act and describe it as including a proof-of-citizenship voting requirement.
The Senate companion bill S.3752 was introduced to amend federal voter-registration law to require proof of U.S. citizenship for federal elections.
Congress.gov lists S.3752 as introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, with no enacted law shown.
The House version, H.R.7296, was introduced to require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
Assessments
Schmitt seriously advanced the policy during his current Senate term by backing and promoting the SAVE America Act and announcing a substitute amendment requiring proof of citizenship for federal elections. But his own Senate vehicle, S.3752, was introduced and referred to committee without enactment. The main evidence of an actual federal requirement is President Trump's March 31, 2026 executive order, which occurred while Schmitt was in office but was implemented by another official rather than delivered through Schmitt's own successful legislative action. Under candidate-credit rules, that supports partial credit in the same term, not full delivery.
Eric Schmitt materially advanced the goal by introducing and promoting the SAVE America Act and related amendment language requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration, and the House even passed a version of that idea. But the Senate bill did not become law, and the later executive-order effort was Trump’s, not Schmitt’s, and was blocked. The promised federal requirement was not actually delivered through enforceable federal law during Schmitt’s term.
Senator Schmitt introduced and actively supported legislative efforts (SAVE America Act and companion Senate bill) to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, fulfilling the serious legislative attempt criterion. However, these measures did not become law. An Executive Order was subsequently issued to implement such a requirement, but a federal court permanently enjoined its relevant section, blocking its implementation. Thus, despite significant effort, the promised outcome was not delivered.
Senator Schmitt made a serious legislative attempt by introducing and promoting the SAVE America Act, which included the requirement for proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, aligning with his campaign promise. An Executive Order aiming to mandate citizenship verification for federal elections was signed by President Trump; however, a federal court permanently blocked its implementation, specifically preventing changes to federal voter registration to require proof of citizenship. As a result, the campaign promise was not delivered despite substantial effort.