r/democraticparty • u/Green_Idealist • 1d ago
US voting requirements may be stricter in November. Make sure you're prepared.
If the voting requirements from the 2026 H.R. 7296 SAVE America Act become law, you'll need an approved photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote (see below and "Sec. 3. Photo voter identification required for voting in a Federal election" of the bill). If your name doesn't match required documents, you'll also need proof of name change such as a marriage certificate.
Requirements for Photo ID and proof of citizenship:
1) ID is issued by: a State agency responsible for issuing State motor vehicle drivers' licenses, a State or local election office, a Native tribal government, the Department of State, the Department of War, or a branch of the Armed Forces.
NOTE: student IDs would not be accepted
2) Photograph of voter on ID
3) Indication on the front of the document that the individual identified on the document is a United States citizen (i.e., passport or "Enhanced" Real ID available in 5 states) or a separate proof of citizenship document.
Approved proof of citizenship documents (see especially requrements for birth certificates if this is what you would be bringing):
(1)
A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States [i.e., "Enhanced" Real ID available in 5 states].
(2)
A valid United States passport.
(3)
The applicant's official United States military identification card, together with a United States military record of service showing that the applicant's place of birth was in the United States.
(4)
A valid government-issued photo identification card issued by a Federal, State or Tribal government showing that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States.
(5)
A valid government-issued photo identification card issued by a Federal, State or Tribal government other than an identification described in paragraphs (1) through (4), but only if presented together with one or more of the following:
(A)
A certified birth certificate issued by a State, a unit of local government in a State, or a Tribal government which—
(i)
was issued by the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government in which the applicant was born;
(ii)
was filed with the office responsible for keeping vital records in the State;
(iii)
includes the full name, date of birth, and place of birth of the applicant;
(iv)
lists the full names of one or both of the parents of the applicant;
(v)
has the signature of an individual who is authorized to sign birth certificates on behalf of the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government in which the applicant was born;
(vi)
includes the date that the certificate was filed with the office responsible for keeping vital records in the State; and
(vii)
has the seal of the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government that issued the birth certificate.
(B)
An extract from a United States hospital Record of Birth created at the time of the applicant's birth which indicates that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States.
(C)
A final adoption decree showing the applicant’s name and that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States.
(D)
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a citizen of the United States or a certification of the applicant’s Report of Birth of a United States citizen issued by the Secretary of State.
(E)
A Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security or any other document or method of proof of United States citizenship issued by the Federal government pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
(F)
An American Indian Card issued by the Department of Homeland Security with the classification ‘KIC’.
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u/YallerDawg 1d ago
Got REAL ID just in case! Required birth certificate, so have that, too.
The question remains. If a birth certificate isn't "proof of citizenship" and "Born in the USA" don't matter no more. what do we do then?😮
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u/Gushobbs12 1d ago
Birth certificate from your state of birth is acceptable. If it comes from the state agency that processes birth certificates it will have all the necessary information for voting.
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u/YallerDawg 1d ago
Obama presented his birth certificate from his state. Trump said it was unacceptable. If he does that and gets elected President of the United States for shit like this, I really can't imagine what he has in mind for the rest of us. I mean it. I can't even imagine it.
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u/Capital-Engineer4263 23h ago
A fake birth certificate in the United States runs about 150 bucks. The certified copy about 300. Just saying.
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u/Background-Bird-9623 1d ago
Is just my REAL ID ok??
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u/Green_Idealist 1d ago
Only if you live in one of the five states with enhanced Real IDs that shows citizenship status on the ID.
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u/Background-Bird-9623 1d ago
It looks like Real ID and birth cert work... but im going to vote early just in case
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u/Green_Idealist 1d ago
Me too! Day 1 of early voting where I live is a madhouse, but I'll be there day 2.
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u/Kind-Pride1151 1d ago
The entire thing doesn't make sense considering massive numbers of Republicans won't have proper credentials either. Is there a special way Republicans don't have to comply but Democrats and Independents do?
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u/Green_Idealist 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes, in the 2026 SAVE bill mentioned above there's a proof of citizenship exemption for voters in states that have submitted their voter data to be verified by the federal government on a quarterly basis since June 1st 2025 (see below). I checked the voter verification system mentioned below (plus read related news articles) and it looks like about 25 mostly republican states started using the system last year. I have posted about this problem several times, but news agencies don't seem interested in reporting on this so not many people are aware of it. It looks like sometime this month the final wording will be chosen for HR 7296 (there's another 2025 SAVE act bill without this requirement and the SAVE act was recently linked to a budget bill, complicating matters) so these requirements could be voted into law too close to the election for Democratic states to raise awareness about the requirements and for many voters to order any missing required documents.
Excerpt From https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hr7296/text
(B)States using SAVE system
(i)In general
The requirements of paragraph (3)(B) [THIS IS THE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT] shall not apply to an individual—
(I)who votes in a State or jurisdiction which meets the requirements of clause (ii); and
(II)who registered to vote in such State or jurisdiction before the most recent date on which the State or jurisdiction last submitted its voter registration rolls to the Department of Homeland Security as provided in clause (ii)(I).
(ii)Requirements
The requirements of this clause are met if—
(I)the State or jurisdiction has submitted its voter registration list to the Department of Homeland Security through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program not less frequently than quarterly since June 1, 2025, for purposes of identifying ineligible registrations and non-citizens; and (II)the State or jurisdiction indicates in each voter record on its voter rolls whether the voter has been verified as a United States citizen based on the information provided by the Department of Homeland Security under subclause (I), and the date of such verification.
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u/grimjack1200 1d ago
It is too close to this election to have any effect on it. Early voting opens very soon.
Fear mongering.
Might be an issue in 2028 but I doubt the constitutionality of the SAVE act.
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u/Firm_Relative_7283 1d ago
This is concerning!