JUST IN: Senate Leader Thune Confirms Vote To Secure Elections With SAVE Act

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) confirmed this week that the Senate will hold a vote on the SAVE America Act, setting the stage for a showdown over election integrity.

The legislation, formally titled the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and strengthen enforcement requirements for states that fail to verify voter eligibility. The House has already passed the measure, largely along party lines. Its future in the Senate, however, remains uncertain.

Under Senate rules, most legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Republicans do not hold a 60-seat supermajority, meaning several Democrats would need to support the bill for it to advance to final passage. There is no clear indication that enough Democratic senators are prepared to cross party lines.

Thune acknowledged that political reality but made clear the vote is coming anyway.

“Well, we will. We’ll put the Democrats on the record,” Thune told Fox News. “And it’s a stark contrast. The Democrats, even in the chamber last night, having to sit there and try and defend allowing non-citizens to vote in American elections. That is a losing proposition for them. So we will get a vote on it.”

“We are right now in the middle of a government shutdown, so we’ve got to try to get the government opened up first. But in due time, we will get that up on the floor. We will have a vote on it,” he said.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump demands Congress unite around passing the SAVE America Act “BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENS”

“Why would anyone not want it? YOU WANT TO CHEAT!” 🔥🔥

He’s right. Saving our republic is not negotiable.

Voter ID is supported by 85%+ of Americans. DO IT. pic.twitter.com/oglnJiE43Y

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 25, 2026

The move comes after President Donald Trump used his recent State of the Union address to spotlight election integrity as a priority. Republican leadership has increasingly framed voter ID and citizenship verification as issues with broad public support.

“We will make sure that the Democrats are on the record. It is a stark contrast between Republicans and Democrats about how they want to handle elections in this country. And this is going to put them, I think, in a very difficult position. It’s an issue — if I were running as a Democrat in the midterm elections in November — I wouldn’t want to have to defend,” Thune finished.

Recent polling frequently cited by Republicans suggests that 84 percent of voters support requiring valid photo identification to vote, including a significant share of Democrats. Thune pointed to that dynamic as a political challenge for the opposition party.

The strategy appears aimed less at guaranteeing immediate passage and more at drawing sharp contrasts. By bringing the SAVE Act to the floor, Republicans would compel Democrats to either back stricter citizenship verification rules or publicly oppose them. Thune has not committed to changing Senate rules or weakening the filibuster to push the bill through with a simple majority. As a result, the vote could function as a procedural test rather than a final legislative victory.

Still, Republicans see value in the debate itself. Election law remains one of the most polarizing issues in national politics. GOP lawmakers argue that proof-of-citizenship requirements are basic safeguards. Democrats counter that documented cases of noncitizen voting are rare and that additional paperwork requirements could disproportionately affect certain voters.

Beyond election policy, Thune also hinted at a legislative agenda. Senate Republicans are exploring a reconciliation package that could include economic measures aimed at working families, including expanded retirement savings access and tax reforms building on Trump-era initiatives. For now, however, the focus is squarely on the SAVE Act.