Most Voters Are Skeptic About Parts Of Trump’s SAVE America Act, Poll Shows

A new poll has found that voters like parts of President Donald Trump‘s SAVE America Act, a bill requiring stricter guidelines to vote, but are not sold on specific aspects of it.

A new POLITICO poll found that only 37% of Americans support the SAVE America Act overall, while 21% oppose it and another 21% neither support nor oppose it. The survey found 52% support for requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, but broader support drops when voters are asked about the bill as a whole, including its limits on mail voting and new federal requirements for election administration.

38% said the bill would make elections fairer by preventing illegitimate votes, while 32% said it would make elections less fair by blocking legitimate voters. Another 30% said they did not know. The strongest support came for individual provisions. About 52% support requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, while 18% oppose it. Another 17% were neutral, and 13% did not know.

Support drops for creating separate voter registration lists, one for people who have provided proof of citizenship and another for those who have not. That proposal drew 38% support, 26% opposition, 20% neutral, and 16% unsure.

The poll also exposes a practical problem, as only 57% of adults said they currently have access to a certified birth certificate with their current legal name, 50% said they have a government-issued photo ID that does not indicate citizenship, 36% said they have a REAL ID indicating citizenship status, and just 30% said they have a valid U.S. passport.

Among 2024 Trump voters, 62% support the bill overall, compared with 26% of Harris voters. Among current midterm voters, 64% of Republicans support it, compared with 26% of Democrats. The bill, formally known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would amend the National Voter Registration Act to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections. A draft of the measure says states could not accept or process a voter registration application unless the applicant presents proof of citizenship.

The White House has promoted the legislation as an election-integrity measure, saying it would require valid identification before registration, proof of citizenship, and sharply restrict mail-in ballots except for limited cases such as illness, disability, military service, or travel.

Voter ID has long been popular across party lines, but the SAVE America Act goes further than a simple ID requirement. The Bipartisan Policy Center warned that mail registration could be effectively weakened because some applicants would have to present documents in person.

The bill passed the House in a 218-213 vote, with one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, joining Republicans. In the Senate, the math is tougher. Republicans hold the majority, but most major legislation still needs 60 votes to clear a filibuster. The Senate voted 51-48 in March to begin debate on the bill, but Republicans still lacked the votes needed to overcome Democratic opposition.