As the Senate gears up to discuss the SAVE America Act this week, issues surrounding voter identification and election integrity are taking center stage as the 2026 elections approach. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia has expressed his opposition to the bill, despite surveys indicating significant backing for its components in his state.
The SAVE America Act aims to mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration and identification during elections, alongside modifying mail-in voting rules and other measures. The Senate is expected to approve the legislation this week. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt noted that President Donald Trump has called on Congress to pass the bill, dubbing it “one of the most important pieces of legislation in the history of our country.” He has stated that he won’t endorse any other legislation until the SAVE America Act is passed.
According to polls referenced by the administration, there seems to be broad public endorsement. A Harvard Harris poll reveals that 71% of registered voters back the SAVE America Act, with support coming from 91% of Republicans, 50% of Democrats, and 69% of independents.
This issue might hit particularly close to home in Georgia, where Senator Ossoff faces a challenging re-election in 2026. A poll has shown that Georgia voters largely favor policies akin to those in the SAVE America Act.
The same poll indicates that 90% of Republicans, 55% of independents, and 55% of Democrats agree on the necessity of proof of citizenship for voter registration. Additionally, 89% of Republicans, 54% of independents, and 58% of Democrats support the idea of states removing noncitizens from voter registration lists. Overall, 91% of Republicans, 55% of independents, and 47% of Democrats support the SAVE America Act itself.
Interestingly, around two-thirds of Georgia voters are likely to favor a senator who supports the SAVE America Act.
Ossoff has expressed that the SAVE America Act is a “blatantly partisan, completely unworkable, and malicious bill cynically designed to disenfranchise millions of voters.”
Former Georgia State Senator has criticized the state’s 2021 Election Integrity Act, labeling it as “Jim Crow” and asserting that it aims to “suppress Black voter turnout.”
However, data released post-implementation of the law indicates record levels of early voting participation. The Georgia Secretary of State reported that 857,401 voters cast their ballots during the early voting period of the 2022 primary, which included both early votes and absentee ballots.
This turnout marked increases of 168% from the 2018 gubernatorial primary and 212% from the 2020 presidential primary, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Secretary Brad Raffensperger noted the record turnout as a sign of confidence in the election system, stating that the Election Integrity Act strikes a balance between access and security.
Ossoff has proposed the Voting Rights Act, which complicates states’ abilities to implement voter ID requirements for ensuring election integrity. Yet, attendees at a recent campaign rally in Atlanta were required to present government-issued identification to gain entry.
