Headline Roundup • April 2nd, 2026
DeSantis Signs Florida SAVE Act Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voters
Florida,Ron DeSantis,Voting,Voter ID,Voter Registration,Voting Machines,Midterm Elections,Citizenship,US Citizenship
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed the Florida SAVE Act, a legislation mirroring President Trump's SAVE America Act that requires proof of citizenship to vote.
The Details: The law would revise Florida's election code by requiring voters to present proof of US citizenship to register to vote or remain on Florida's voter rolls. DeSantis said the new law "strengthens the security, transparency, and reliability of Florida's election system." It's set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2027 and won't affect midterm elections.
Lawsuit: On Thursday, the Elias Law Group filed a lawsuit against the legislation on behalf of Florida's NAACP branch and the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans. The attorneys cited "scant evidence of noncitizens voting in Florida elections" and "no evidence…that noncitizen voting has had a material effect on any Florida election."
Recent Elections in Florida: The legislation comes as several Democrats have won elections in Florida over the last year. On March 25, Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples in a special election in Florida's 87th House District–the district which includes Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. On March 23, Rep. Josie Tomkow was also defeated by Democrat Brian Nathan in a District 14 Senate race. Last year, Eileen Higgins won Miami's mayoral election last year, marking the first time in nearly three decades a Democrat led the city.
Voter ID: Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota and Utah have all recently passed proof of citizenship laws. In Aug. 2025, Pew Research Center (Center bias) reported 83% of Americans, including 95% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats, supported requiring voters to show photo ID to vote.
How the Media Covered It: Outlets on the left, including The Guardian (Left) and NBC News (Lean Left) described the legislation as being "restrictive." NBC focused on dissent and concerns surrounding the law, while The Guardian highlighted similar legislation in four other states and potential legal challenges. Outlets on the right, including Fox News (Right) and Epoch Times (Lean Right) emphasized defense of the legislation and cited DeSantis' claims that it would uphold election integrity.
Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
The governors of Florida and Mississippi signed legislation on Wednesday to require documented proof of citizenship to register to vote and to begin a process that will eventually unenroll voters who have not provided citizenship documentation.
A new lawsuit has been filed challenging a recently enacted Florida law that mirrors the language of the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act — President Trump's self-described "No. 1" legislative priority.
AP Photo/Chris O'Meara
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday aimed at safeguarding the state's elections, including a measure that requires verification of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.
