TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday requiring documented proof of citizenship for voter registration, potentially disenfranchising eligible voters and echoing restrictive measures proposed in the stalled federal Save America Act.

The Florida law mandates the Department of State to identify registered voters whose citizenship status is uncertain, comparing registration data against state and federal databases. Voters deemed potentially ineligible will be required to provide documentation, facing removal from the voter rolls if they fail to comply.

Critics argue this law mirrors a national trend of voter suppression tactics, particularly targeting minority and low-income communities who may face greater barriers to obtaining required documentation. The addition of U.S. passport cards as acceptable ID, while removing options like retirement center IDs and public assistance IDs, disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations.

The law takes effect January 1, 2027, but other states are moving faster. South Dakota's similar legislation is slated to be implemented before the November midterms, raising concerns about its immediate impact on voter turnout.

These state-level actions come as the Save America Act, spearheaded by Donald Trump, faces deadlock in the U.S. Senate. The bill's restrictive provisions, including proof-of-citizenship requirements and strict photo ID mandates, are unlikely to pass, prompting concerns that state laws are becoming the primary vehicle for voter suppression.

Facing congressional resistance, Trump is reportedly urging conservative states to enact similar voting restrictions. This strategy raises fears that a patchwork of discriminatory voting laws will emerge across the country, creating unequal access to the ballot box.

Mississippi legislators recently sent the Shield Act to Governor Tate Reeves, requiring voter registration applications to be vetted against driver's license data and the USCIS's SAVE database. This provision, a less-publicized aspect of the Save America Act, raises concerns about privacy and potential misuse of immigration data.

Louisiana implemented a similar law in 2025, but it faces an ongoing legal challenge, highlighting the contested nature of these voting restrictions. New Hampshire also faces legal action after removing a provision allowing registrants to affirm their citizenship, now requiring documentation instead.