Voting-access fight heats up
Claims that Biden expanded voting access via 'open borders' and Democratic pushes for citizenship paths have intensified the debate over who gets to vote — opponents are tying this to mail‑in ballot concerns and 'ballot harvesting' rhetoric (x.com). Rep. Sara Jacobs publicly accused Trump of prioritizing the 'SAVE America Act' at the expense of voting access, saying it effectively blocks millions from voting (x.com). Meanwhile, Trump’s recent executive order is being cast as a move to limit states’ regulatory power — a growing flashpoint for AI and election policy fights (x.com).
The Republican-controlled House approved the SAVE America Act on Feb. 11, 2026 by a 218–213 vote, sending the bill to the Senate. (nbcnews.com) The legislation would force states to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections, mandate photo ID to cast a ballot, and require copies of ID for absentee requests and ballots. (factcheck.org) One provision directs states to run voter rolls through the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE citizenship-verification system, a step critics say would outsource verification to a tool DHS itself calls imperfect. (brennancenter.org) Advocacy and Democratic leaders say the paperwork requirements could affect millions; the Brennan Center estimates more than 21 million Americans lack ready access to the documents specified in the bills, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned the measure could disenfranchise roughly 20 million people. (brennancenter.org) (msn.com) The Senate began formal debate on the SAVE America Act on March 17, 2026 and supporters have marshaled dozens of cosponsors — Sen. Mike Lee reported 48 cosponsors as of mid‑March — but procedural hurdles and a likely Democratic filibuster remain. (factcheck.org) (whosmyrep.org) Separately, the Trump administration’s executive orders have sought to centralize federal control over both election rules and AI regulation; a Dec. 11, 2025 White House fact sheet directed agencies to help preempt state AI laws, and the March 25, 2025 election executive order has spawned multiple lawsuits arguing it oversteps states’ constitutional authority over elections. (whitehouse.gov) (ncsl.org) The debate over mail ballots has intensified alongside these fights: reporting shows the White House pushed to prohibit most no‑excuse mail voting and to end practices labeled “ballot harvesting,” and the Supreme Court is currently weighing Republican challenges that would limit counting of late‑arriving mail ballots — decisions that could reshape absentee rules before the 2026 midterms. (politico.com) (abcnews.go.com)
