Congressional Republicans are pushing new versions of the anti-voter SAVE Act — their massive attack on our voting rights. These “SAVE Act 2.0” bills would make voting harder for millions of Americans, and be the biggest legislative rollback of voting rights in our country’s history. And that’s not an accident, it’s by design.
The authors of these bills know that our vote is our power. By blocking huge numbers of eligible voters, they want to take away power from everyday people – and put more in the hands of wealthy elites.
Voting is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight the climate crisis. This bill threatens our ability to elect leaders who will act in the best interest of our communities, not billionaires and Big Oil. Here are the top five things to know about the SAVE Act 2.0 and how you can help stop it.
1. What are the SAVE Act, the SAVE America Act, and the Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act?
The House passed the SAVE Act last year, which attempted to reshape voting as we know it by adding unnecessary barriers to the process. But thanks to outraged voters speaking out against it, the unpopular bill didn’t make it to a vote in the Senate.
Unfortunately, Republicans are now doubling down with two new versions that would cause even more harm: the SAVE America Act (passed by the House on February 11), and the Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act. We’re not fooled – these are simply “SAVE Act 2.0,” and will do even more harm to voters by:
Forcing citizens to:
Appear in-person to register to vote and update their voter registration – essentially eliminating online and by-mail options
Present a birth certificate or passport that matches their current legal name – which millions of eligible voters don’t have
Further limiting access to voter registration by:
Gutting popular state programs for automatic voter registration, such as registering eligible people when updating their driver’s license
Decreasing the effectiveness of voter registration drives, including nonpartisan ones, nationwide
Gutting mail-in voting by:
Ending universal vote by mail, instead requiring voters to submit an application in order to vote by mail
Requiring mail-in ballots be received by election day, even though some states currently accept ballots mailed by election day that arrive soon after – potentially discounting millions of votes
These changes would unnecessarily complicate the registration and voting process for tens of millions of eligible voters. They would also create huge, chaotic burdens on local election officials trying to serve their communities.
Research has found that across the board, show-your-papers requirements and mandatory in-person voter registration decreases turnout and makes it harder for eligible citizens to vote. These additional steps will make it significantly harder for many millions of eligible American voters to make their voices heard.
Make no mistake — this is voter suppression, plain and simple. It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and every state already has strong protections in place to prevent noncitizens from voting. These SAVE Act 2.0 bills are just more attempts to disenfranchise voters and suppress the power of the people.
2. Which voters will the SAVE Act 2.0 bills put at risk?
Does one of these categories represent you? Your ability to vote may be impacted:
Voters in one of the 42 states that depend on online voter registration or mail-in registration: Voters would have to appear in-person for something as simple as a change of address or party affiliation.
Military voters, Tribal voters, and rural voters who live far from polling locations and rely on online and mail-in registration: In the 2022 election cycle, 8 million people registered to vote online and 3 million voters registered by mail, email, or fax. These voters would now have to travel – for many, long distances – to submit or update their voter registration.
People without passports:More than 146 million American citizens do not have a valid passport. Obtaining a passport can be a lengthy and costly process, and many people who lack the time and money to get one would be deterred from voting.
People who have changed their name, including many married people: As many as 69 million people who have taken their spouse’s name at marriage do not have a birth certificate with their legal name. New requirements under the SAVE Act may force voters to use alternative forms of identification, such as a passport – if they have one – in the absence of an accurate birth certificate.
Transgender people who have changed their name: As many as 3.3 million voters identify as transgender and may lack identification that accurately reflects their chosen name. Attaining an updated passport or birth certificate is often a long and involved process, and the Trump administration is working to make it even more difficult for transgender people.
People in states where passports are uncommon: In New York and California, over 70% of citizens have passports. In West Virginia and Mississippi, barely 20% of citizens have passports.
Survivors of natural disasters who may have recently lost their documentation.
Our biggest environmental challenges require political solutions. Our vote is our power to fight for those solutions. The climate crisis is here, and now more than ever, our communities must have a voice in choosing leaders who shape policies that could effectively address these issues. It’s no coincidence that Big Polluters support the politiciansandjudges who try to make voting harder. Democracy is a climate issue.
Many groups most harmed by pollution and climate change are also the most historically disenfranchised. These experiences are intersectional, meaning people who identify with more than one of these groups face extra challenges. Communities most harmed by climate change must have the power to vote on the solutions to these issues that affect them the most.
Survivors of climate-change driven disasters: Survivors of disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires may have lost many of their belongings, including the documentation required under the SAVE Act. Climate disasters also cause damage to critical infrastructure. This can limit travel to voting locations and damage polling locations themselves.
LGBTQ/Trans communities: Transgender voters find it hard to get identification with their chosen name and gender. LGBTQ+ communities are also less likely to have access to emergency aid, healthcare, and shelter during disasters.
4. What is the status of the SAVE Act?
The original SAVE Act was passed by the House in April 2025, but stalled in the Senate thanks to pushback from outraged voters. This year, Congressional Republicans are trying to jam through new and worse “Save Act 2.0” bills known as the SAVE America Act and the Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act. The House passed the SAVE America Act on February 11, 2026 and it is now under debate in the Senate.
It’s important to contact your members of Congress now to urge them to vote “NO” on both bills. Make sure your friends and family know how they could impact their ability to vote, and ask them to contact their legislators too!
Republicans are trying to pass the “SAVE Act 2.0,” the biggest legislative rollback of voting rights in our country's history. It threatens voting access for 146 million Americans who don't have a passport, millions who can't easily access a birth certificate, rural voters, voters of color, voters with disabilities, survivors of climate disasters, and the tens of millions of people who have changed their names. Tell Congress: keep elections free and fair — stop the SAVE Act 2.0!
