Murkowski Opposes SAVE Act Over Federal Overreach

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced on February 10, 2026, that she would oppose the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, a Republican-led bill aimed at requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the Republican senator became the first from her party to publicly reject the measure, citing concerns over federal overreach into state election processes.

The SAVE Act, introduced in the House by Representative Chip Roy of Texas and with a Senate companion bill led by Senator Mike Lee of Utah, seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. It would mandate that individuals provide documentary evidence of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate, REAL ID-compliant driver's license indicating citizenship status, or naturalization certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections. The legislation also calls for states to establish programs verifying voter rolls to ensure only citizens remain registered and would require valid identification at polling places. Proponents, including former President Donald Trump, argue the bill addresses potential...