Thune to put SAVE America Act on the floor

Thune made the announcement on Thursday, saying the Senate will have a “full and robust debate” over the legislation. Thune also noted that the bill, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot, has widespread support among the American public.

“Eighty-three percent of Americans – 83 percent – in an August 2025 poll supported requiring photo ID at the polls for all voters,” Thune said. “That includes 71 percent of Democrats, 76 percent of Black Americans, 77 percent of Asian Americans, and 82 percent of Hispanic Americans. It kind of feels like the only Americans not to support voter ID requirements are Democrats here in Congress.”

“We’re expecting continued full-throated opposition to voter ID and the SAVE America Act from Senate Democrats – as well as more of the unforgivable rhetoric that Democrats have already been engaging in,” he continued. “The Democrat leader has been calling this bill ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ – a phrase that is not only deeply irresponsible and insulting to those who actually lived through that dark chapter in our history, but also insults the overwhelming majority of Americans – including minorities – who look at voter ID and see nothing more than common sense.”

Thune added that while he cannot guarantee the legislation will pass, he can guarantee that the Senate GOP will “put Democrats on the record” for their opposition to the bill.

The SAVE America Act was cleared by the House last month largely on party lines, with just one Democrat supporting the measure. The expectation that the bill will not pass the Senate has led several Republican lawmakers to push for a return to a “talking filibuster,” which would require opposing senators to hold the Senate floor while blocking legislation. Supporters also argue that such a change could allow the bill to pass with a simple 50-vote majority, according to a report by CNBC.

Other Republican lawmakers have suggested attaching the legislation to a must-pass bill that Congress will ultimately have to take up.

Thune’s announcement follows more discouraging comments he made earlier in the week, where he said that he doesn’t have the votes for a talking filibuster.

“The votes aren’t there, one, to nuke the filibuster, and the votes aren’t there for a talking filibuster. It’s just a reality,” Thune said on Tuesday. “I’m the person who has to deliver sometimes the not-so-good news that the math doesn’t add up, but those are the facts and there’s no getting around it.”

President Trump has urged Congress to get the Save Act passed ahead of the midterm elections. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he will not sign other legislation until it is passed.

“It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE,” the president said.