Federal Impacts on Washington State Elections

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The Office of the Secretary of State is monitoring federal legislation and decisions that would affect elections at the state level. This includes the SAVE America Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2026 and is currently in the Senate. This page will be updated when new information is made available.

SAVE America Act

As of April 2026 — The Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act, also called the SAVE Act or SAVE America Act, would change voter registration requirements and election procedures. The SAVE America Act has not been passed in the Senate and has not been signed into law by the president. All information on this page is based on the most recent public bill text and is subject to change as the legislative process continues. 

Key provisions of the current SAVE America Act include:  

  • Documentary proof of citizenship would be required when registering to vote in federal elections. This documentation would need to be shown in person at the agency where a person is registering.

  • Voters would need to show photo ID when voting. In vote-by-mail states like Washington, voters would need to include a copy of their photo ID when returning their ballot.

  • States would be required to submit a complete, unredacted voter roll to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS would use the voter rolls to attempt to verify voter citizenship.

Frequently asked questions about the SAVE America Act

Has the SAVE America Act passed?

The SAVE America Act has not passed the Senate and has not been signed into law. At this time, there is no action required of voters. 

Will I need to register again to vote if the SAVE America Act passes?

Currently registered voters would remain registered if the SAVE America Act passes. Based on current interpretation of the bill, only new voters will be required to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Existing voters would still be required to provide a copy of their photo ID when casting a ballot, but they would not have to provide documentary proof of citizenship when updating a current voter registration.

What documents count as documentary proof of citizenship under the SAVE America Act?

Documentary proof of citizenship includes U.S. birth certificate, a passport, or a Washington state enhanced ID or enhanced driver’s license. If a person’s current legal name does not match the name on their citizenship documents, they would need additional documentation showing the name change. A more complete list of acceptable documents is outlined in the full bill text, but these requirements are subject to change as the SAVE America Act has not passed. At this time, Washington voters do not need to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. 

Will I still be able to vote by mail if the SAVE America Act passes?

Voters would not be required to vote in person under the SAVE America Act. Washington voters would still be able to vote at home and return their ballot by official ballot drop box or U.S. mail. However, voters would be required to present photo ID every time they vote. For vote-by-mail elections, this means voters would need to include a photocopy of their valid photo ID when they return their ballot envelope — a practice that raises serious privacy and security concerns.

How will the SAVE America Act affect married women and people who have legally changed their name?

A voter whose name does not match the name printed on their documentary proof of citizenship or ID would have to provide additional documentation verifying their name change. The bill text does not include a specific list of acceptable documents at this time. If a voter does not have access to documents proving their name change, they can sign an affidavit attesting that the name on their documentation was previously their name. Many Washingtonians whose legal names have changed would face additional steps when registering to vote, ultimately making voting less accessible.