Florida lawmakers on Thursday approved a strict elections bill requiring voters to verify their citizenship when registering, sending the measure to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis for his expected signature.
The GOP-dominated state House passed the proposal in a 77–28 vote just hours after the Republican-controlled Senate approved it 27–12. Votes in both chambers largely fell along party lines.
The measure is modeled after the federal SAVE Act — short for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility — which has been strongly championed by President Donald Trump.
DeSantis has referred to the proposal as “the Florida version of the SAVE Act” and signaled his support.
“Although Florida has already enacted much of what the federal legislation contemplates, this will further fortify our state as the leader in election integrity,” the governor said in a social media post.
The developments in Florida come as the federal bill faces an uncertain future in Congress.
The SAVE Act narrowly passed the GOP-controlled House in February, largely along party lines, but it has stalled in the Senate. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber — short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
The federal bill would impose stricter voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements nationwide. Republicans argue the legislation is necessary to strengthen election integrity.
Polling has shown broad support among Americans — regardless of political affiliation — for voter ID requirements and preventing noncitizens from voting in federal elections.
Democrats, however, argue the legislation is unnecessary because U.S. citizenship is already required to vote and documented cases of noncitizen voting are rare.
Voting rights groups and Democratic lawmakers also warn that the proposal could create new barriers that make it harder for eligible voters to cast ballots.
Trump, who is focused on preserving Republican congressional majorities in the 2026 midterm elections, recently said the legislation should be Congress’s top priority. If enacted, he argued, it “will guarantee the midterms” for Republicans.
Under the Florida measure, the proof-of-citizenship requirement would not take effect until January, after the November 2026 midterm elections.
The bill also leaves intact Florida’s system of excuse-free mail-in voting.
Another provision would prevent college students from using student IDs to vote in person, though that restriction would not take effect until 2027.
“This bill creates real barriers for everyday Floridians, especially those with the fewest resources,” Democratic state Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis of Orlando wrote on social media. “It will disproportionately impact working families, seniors, and college students who want to exercise their voice and right to vote.”
If signed, Florida would become the most populous state to require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Arizona and Kansas adopted similar requirements in the past two decades, and Louisiana enacted a comparable law two years ago.
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