Driving the news: The House passed the SAVE America Act in February 2026, with every House Republican voting yes and every Democrat except one voting no. The bill would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections and approved government photo ID to cast a ballot.
In March 2026, Senate Republicans backed taking up the bill, but every Democrat opposed it. That unanimous Democratic opposition kept the measure from reaching the 60 votes needed under Senate rules.
President Donald Trump and conservative activists are now urging Senate Republicans to use a procedural 'nuclear option' to change the rules and let the bill pass with a simple majority. Some Senate Republicans oppose that move, saying it would weaken the chamber's deliberative role and make future blockage of extreme Democrat legislation harder.
Between the lines: Democrats are also looking at the U.S. Supreme Court. On Sept. 2, 2026, the House voted on a proposed constitutional amendment to keep nine justices on the court. The proposal fell short of the two-thirds needed to advance.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said 'everything is on the table.' Former House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., called for adding four justices. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have also called for adding at least four new seats.
The bottom line: The fight is about more than one bill. It is about who sets election rules, who controls the Senate's filter, and whether the Supreme Court stays at nine justices or becomes another prize in the power struggle.