A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill requires individuals to provide both government photo identification and proof of United States citizenship to vote in Federal elections. For those voting in person, election officials cannot provide a ballot unless these specific documents are presented. The same requirement applies to individuals voting by mail, who must submit copies of these documents with their ballot. If an individual lacks the required documentation, they may cast a provisional ballot, but it can only be counted if their citizenship is verified by an election official. The bill also establishes new criminal penalties for those who provide ballots without these required documents or assist noncitizens in attempting to vote. These regulations are set to take effect starting with the November 2026 general elections.
Yes
- Scored +2
Does this make elections run better?
The bill establishes more rigorous verification standards for voter identity and citizenship.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -5
Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice?
The requirement to provide both photo ID and proof of citizenship increases the difficulty of voting in person and by mail.
- Scored -4
Does this protect the right to vote?
The bill imposes strict new documentation requirements that create barriers to casting a ballot for many citizens.
- Scored -3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The cost and administrative burden of obtaining specific government identification may disproportionately affect low-income individuals.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Verification of Citizenship: The bill establishes specific requirements for proof of United States citizenship, which include a valid U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, or a Naturalization Certificate (Section 2(a)(1)(A) and Section 2(b)(2)).
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Standardized Identification: The bill defines "government photo identification" as a valid card issued by Federal, State, or Tribal government that includes a photograph, full name, and date of birth (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Provisions for Name Changes: Individuals whose names do not match across their citizenship and photo ID documents can provide evidence of a name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order, to meet the requirements (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(ii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Burden on In-Person Voters: Election officials are prohibited from providing a ballot to an individual voting in person unless they present the required government photo identification and proof of citizenship (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
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Burden on Mail-In Voters: Individuals voting other than in person must submit a copy of both a document proving citizenship and a government photo identification document with their ballot (Section 2(a)(2)(A)).
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Restrictions on Provisional Ballots: While individuals without the required identification can cast a provisional ballot, that ballot may only be counted if an election official verifies their citizenship (Section 2(a)(1)(B) and Section 2(a)(2)(B)).
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Increased Criminal Penalties: New criminal penalties are established for providing a ballot to an individual who fails to present the required identification and proof of citizenship (Section 2(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice? — The requirement to provide both photo ID and proof of citizenship increases the difficulty of voting in person and by mail. Does this protect the right to vote? — The bill imposes strict new documentation requirements that create barriers to casting a ballot for many citizens.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The cost and administrative burden of obtaining specific government identification may disproportionately affect low-income individuals. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Increased documentation requirements can act as a barrier to voting for various demographic groups including Hispanic Americans. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The new identification requirements may present additional hurdles for residents in densely populated urban areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make elections run better? — The bill establishes more rigorous verification standards for voter identity and citizenship.
- 1/2/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.